Was the deportation of Columbia student/Pro-Palestinian protester fair?

Question

My thoughts:
1. He has a First Amendment right
2. Dumb idea, considering he was close to finishing his studies, and his wife was pregnant.
3. He shouldn't be deported due to the favoritism of a specific ethnic group, aka zionism. If that's the case, everyone should be deported because we all get criticized. So, what makes a specific group exempt from criticism over another? Who runs the US , Israel (😆)?
4. He didn't criticize the US he criticized Israel, so wtf does that have to do with us America?
5. He is a guest here
6. Finally- deportation wasn't necessary. Maybe a warning but the warning should also be given to pro Israel students.

Was the deportation of Columbia student/Pro-Palestinian protester fair?

abc3643 · Accepted Answer

As for "fair", the only things that matter are:

1. Did he commit a deportable offence?
2. Did he get due process?

That's it. In short, if you commit a punishable act, then you are going to get punished. Period. BUT, you are owed due process. This means that, once accused of committing the punishable act, there needs to be a formal procedure to 1) determine if you did that punishable act, 2) how and why you did it (in case there are extenuating circumstances), and 3) so you can defend yourself from the accusations.

=========

Now, I am not fully aware of all the details of Mahmoud Khalil's case (he's that Columbia student).

Your First Amendment rights are limited and here's an example.

Khalil's problems start with this statute:

========

US Code statute 8 USC § 1182(a)(3)(B)(i)(VII)

UNITED STATES CODE
TITLE 8 - ALIENS AND NATIONALITY
CHAPTER 12—IMMIGRATION AND NATIONALITY (§§ 1101 – 1537)
SUBCHAPTER II—IMMIGRATION (§§ 1151 – 1382)
Part II—Admission Qualifications for Aliens; Travel Control of Citizens and Aliens (§§ 1181 – 1189)
§ 1182. Inadmissible aliens

It's a long statute. The relevant text is under Subsection (a) Paragraph (3) Subparagraph (B) Clause (i) Subclause (VII)

https://www.law.cornell.edu/uscode/text/8/1182

8 U. S. Code § 1182 - Inadmissible aliens

(a) Classes of aliens ineligible for visas or admission

Except as otherwise provided in this chapter, aliens who are inadmissible under the following paragraphs are ineligible to receive visas and ineligible to be admitted to the United States:

...

(3) Security and related grounds

...

(B) Terrorist activities

(i) In general

Any alien who—

...

(VII) endorses or espouses terrorist activity or persuades others to endorse or espouse terrorist activity or support a terrorist organization;

...

is inadmissible. An alien who is an officer, official, representative, or spokesman of the Palestine Liberation Organization is considered, for purposes of this chapter, to be engaged in a terrorist activity.

========

So, as you see, the First Amendment doesn't give you the right to say whatever you want. Young people believe they have an absolute First Amendment right to say all sorts of shit, but you don't, so throw that idea out the door.

OK, so this is the "punishable act" he is accused of committing.

Now, he needs some due process - in a sense, "go to court" about this.

If he doesn't get due process, that's a problem and that's wrong.

If he did receive due process and it was determined he violated that statute, then he deserves to be deported.

Here's a very good Wall Street Journal editorial about his case and the need for due process...

===

https://www.wsj.com/opinion/mahmoud-khalil-green-card-trump-administration-cuad-columbia-israel-hamas-ecdc4424?mod=opinion_trendingnow_article_pos4

Mahmoud Khalil and His Green Card
Terrorist support is cause for revocation, but not unpopular speech.

The Trump Administration’s decision to revoke the green-card immigration status of anti-Israel activist Mahmoud Khalil is becoming a cause celebre, for better and maybe worse. Mr. Khalil may deserve deportation, but he also deserves due process, ...

===

Meanwhile, all of this you that you wrote:

"2. Dumb idea, considering he was close to finishing his studies, and his wife was pregnant.
3. He shouldn't be deported due to the favoritism of a specific ethnic group, aka zionism. If that's the case, everyone should be deported because we all get criticized. So, what makes a specific group exempt from criticism over another? Who runs the US , Israel ()?
4. He didn't criticize the US he criticized Israel, so wtf does that have to do with us America?
5. He is a guest here
6. Finally- deportation wasn't necessary. Maybe a warning but the warning should also be given to pro Israel students."

is completely irrelevant. Congress decided we don't want guest who espouse terrorism to be in this country. If you don't like it, then advocate for a change in the law.

MisterWack · Accepted Answer

My reaction to  My thoughts: 1. He has a First Amendment right  Correct, you have freedom of speech where the government cannot limit a person’s right to speak up also to assemble peacefully. You are given that right and the govt cannot limit it. Non-govt entities like schools, libraries, doctor offices, or whatever can limit free speech for example “no swearing”.  2. Dumb idea, considering he was close to finishing his studies, and his wife was pregnant.  I would say, yeah empathy & compassion is rich though doesn’t necessarily make it unjustified in the law like freedom of speech argument also ‘due process’ justifies this harder in the eyes of the law. Especially since SCOTUS made a majority opinion that sided with ‘Due Process’ since before the individual is deported, they should be allowed a court system way to try to appeal & get it thrown out just in case there is an error which prevents US Citizens from being deported too by a future administration.  3. He shouldn't be deported due to the favoritism of a specific ethnic group, aka zionism. If that's the case, everyone should be deported because we all get criticized. So, what makes a specific group exempt from criticism over another? Who runs the US , Israel ()?  Freedom of religion, the govt cannot limit one’s expression, practice, and faith of religion also you are given a right as a citizen to be free from religion practice. As in, no one can force you into doing something against your religious practices or lack of faith since that would be a violation. 4. He didn't criticize the US he criticized Israel, so wtf does that have to do with us America?  Freedom of speech, doesn’t matter because you can criticize anyone and you are free to do so. 5. He is a guest here  Doesn’t really contribute to anything, though once you are in the jurisdiction of USA, you are treated under the law & seen equally protected under the law with the same rights as everyone else which is important to note. 6. Finally- deportation wasn't necessary. Maybe a warning but the warning should also be given to pro Israel students. Exactly. Thank you for your thoughts and feelings to allow users like me to share & showcase our opinions, thoughts, and ideals since Freedom of Speech is our God given right & must be upheld by The Govt founded by the idea of ‘By The People, For The People’ & ‘Endowed by their creator, certain unalienable rights’. So it is written, so it is done.

Anonymous · Accepted Answer

Nobody actually supports the disgusting acts of Israel, nor the left or the right. The only ones supporting it are our leaders both left and right because then government has become an infested Israel cult. There are very few people left like Ben Shapiro who are so brainwashed and idolize their people so much to the extent to justify murdering babies and blame “Hamas” for their own sick actions.

The majority of us both left and right don not support this shit. If we all work together we can eventually rid our government of pro Israel cult and put in place leaders who are actually for OUR people and OUR country first.

I strongly believe the only reason most people are so hard core left and so hardcore right is because of Israel shitheads taking control of the media purposely putting out propaganda for both sides in an attempt to divide and make us hate each other.

In the end we all want the same thing just we are under lies that control our way of thinking.

The only reason they are able to deport these people is because the entire country is not brave enough or doesn’t care enough to all go against our government. If we did that, they really have no power.. but most of us just want to go to work and stay out of this mess.. hence the government has the ability to deport and do nonsense such as this ☝️

We can however start educating ourselves who are the pro Israel and start voting them out of power and voting only pro real Americans into powerful positions.

Educating the young so that the cycle does not repeat itself.

Anonymous · Answer

The US needs to cut ties with Israel because they're strongly disliked? When does the US decide which allies they should support based on whether or not they are liked by enemies of the US?

Favoritism of a specific ethnic group? When did antisemitism become acceptable in the US?

Palestine is a terrorist state whose elected government has committed countless atrocities against Israel, including the October 10th attack where hundreds of innocent men, women and children were brutally murdered or worse. As long as the evil organization Hamas is allowed to exist, they will continue to do worse and worse things to Israelis, and the US if it can. They need to be exterminated. They are cowards who used Israelis and THEIR OWN PEOPLE as human shields, preventing Israel from fighting back without unintended casualties, which is despicable.

The hate innocent jews faced on college campuses in the US was also despicable. It's unacceptable, and Khalil participated in antisemitism and overt support for a terrorist state that is an enemy of the US, as a GUEST. Anyone like that should be deported.

MuddyMole · Answer

It sounds as if there  might  possibly be a case to be made against him, but someone needs to actually make that case, before any action is taken. Punishing someone because their actions might have an "adverse foreign policy consequence" (in this case, because they make Israel look bad) is ludicrous - I'm struggling to even think of any example where it would be appropriate to enforce that law (and no other law could be used instead). And you're right - the US  does  need to cut ties with Israel, and introduce some very strict anti-lobbying laws. AIPAC and other groups are far, far too influential.

Lliam · Answer

It's 1000% wrong!
We can criticize any other country in the world, including our own, other than Israel.

It is NOT antisemitic to criticize Israel or Zionism any more than it is anti-German to criticize Nazism.

Even many Jews criticize Israel and oppose Zionism.

It is the height of dishonesty to characterize people who support Palestinians as supporters of terrorism. Only in the minds of Israel and its supporters is support for human rights considered terrorism. Nothing could be more disingenuous considering the 77 years of sadistic human rights abuses that Israel has engaged in.

exitseven · Answer

YES, a visa is not the same as being a citizen. It is a privilege and not a right. It can be revoked at any time the State department wants.
This guy was one lf the leaders of the Hamas chapter at Columbia. Hamas i a terrorist organization. Ergo, this guy is a terrorist.
He had his visa revoked. After that happens he no longer has any legal standing to stay in the country and is subject to deportation.
Why is this so hard to understand?

Sachem · Answer

We continue to see post after post from tRump apologists who continue to defend his actions even though they are a clear violation of constitutionally guaranteed 𝐝𝐮𝐞 𝐩𝐫𝐨𝐜𝐞𝐬𝐬 (Fifth and Fourteenth Amendments). It is only too evident that tRump has no regard for the rule of law and that his actions are impeachable.

When will people learn?

lightbulb27 · Answer

I'd say no as far as I can tell [I don't have all the facts].

He has a right as a citizen to say whatever crap he wants, to some extent. As a visitor... not so sure, I say yes but I could change my mind.

But life isn't fair is it...

Sal_Monella · Answer

A student visa can be revoked under various circumstances, including criminal activity, failure to maintain student status, or for national security reasons. The latter may may apply. But I am personally offended by foreign students running down the country I bled for.

hahahmm · Answer

Yes. And a good spouse would follow him to the country he's in, keeping to her vows instead of staying in the U. S.

LiamS95 · Answer

America claims to "Trust in God" it's even on the US money. Israel is home to God's chosen people so it's incumbent on the US to support and defend Israel.

SmokinAces2000 · Answer

Of course it wasn’t fair. The same people that claim they are anti-authoritarian support this clear authoritarian move.

Jersey2 · Answer

He supports a terrorist organization, Hamas, so he needs to go.

Jackblue · Answer

Rioting and threatening isn't part of the first amendment, plus it doesn't apply in the same way to non-citizens.

loveslongnails · Answer

What kind of administration tries to stifle words of protest whether you're a guest or citizen? The answer is self-evident.

DCVsMarvel2 · Answer

Deporting an anti israel protestor. Sounds anti islam to me. I'm jewish, by the way. Even I don't agree with what israel is doing

beefcakebradybatson · Answer

Trumpworld 2025 !!! My Aunt Francine, who lives in the Detroit suburb of Centerline, told my niece that ICE spirited away a couple of people in her building

noohair · Answer

He does not have all the rights and privileges of a citizen. His status can be changed or revoked. And he has credible ties to terror organizations.

Anonymous · Answer

He was warned many times and freedom of speech isn't absolute. If your exercise of free speech interferes with someone else's ability to live their life then it's not protected by the First Amendment.

Anonymous · Answer

More than fair but I'd have given him the inglorious bastards treatment first

Anonymous · Answer

I thought he should have had his head removed due to lack of brain.

blackeagle007 · Answer

It’s trumps fault for supporting isreal

Anonymous · Answer

This is not right, and it needs to stop.

jimmy2 · Answer

He Hamus part of a terrorist organization

Godihateyou · Answer

FAFO. Lol. MAGA

Was the deportation of Columbia student/Pro-Palestinian protester fair?

Most Helpful Opinions

What Girls & Guys Said

What is your views on the takeover of college on Palestine protests?

Was the deportation of Columbia student/Pro-Palestinian protester fair?

Most Helpful Opinions

What Girls & Guys Said

What is your views on the takeover of college on Palestine protests?

We're glad to see you liked this post.