Fri Mar 14 18:15:00 UTC 2025: ## US Detains Palestinian Activist, Revokes Visas of Pro-Palestine Protesters
**New York, March 15, 2025** – The arrest and deportation efforts of Mahmoud Khalil, a Palestinian activist and Columbia University graduate student, are escalating a controversy surrounding the crackdown on pro-Palestinian protests in the US. Immigration officials have arrested a second individual, Leqaa Kordia, a Palestinian student, for visa overstay, citing her participation in past protests. Additionally, the visa of Ranjani Srinivasan, an Indian doctoral student, was revoked for allegedly advocating violence and terrorism. Both actions follow President Donald Trump’s recent announcement of a broader crackdown on individuals deemed involved in “pro-terrorist, anti-Semitic, anti-American activity.”
Khalil’s arrest and subsequent transfer to Louisiana sparked outrage after his lawyers described his treatment as a “kidnapping,” detailing his detention in a cold, unsanitary bunker without basic necessities. His lawyers have filed a lawsuit against President Trump, Secretary of State Marco Rubio, and relevant government agencies seeking his immediate release. They argue that Khalil’s actions constituted protected political speech. The lawsuit claims that Khalil was denied access to legal counsel for several days and that his transfer was conducted in secrecy, with agents initially refusing to identify themselves.
The government’s defense cites a law allowing for the removal of individuals whose presence or activities pose serious adverse foreign policy consequences. They have requested the lawsuit’s dismissal or transfer to New Jersey or Louisiana, where Khalil was held. Khalil’s lawyers, however, highlight his upcoming participation in a documentary premiere in Copenhagen and his planned employment in April, further emphasizing their claims of unjust treatment. The case underscores the escalating tensions surrounding the Israel-Palestine conflict and its impact on free speech and protest rights in the United States.
First Piper 