‘Rules aren’t clear anymore’: Trump crackdown on student protesters sends shock waves across US universities
CNN
Last weekend’s arrest of Mahmoud Khalil, a Palestinian refugee whose green card was revoked over his involvement in demonstrations at Columbia University, is having a chilling effect on college campuses across America, where students say they’re being forced to think carefully before exercising their constitutionally protected right to free speech.
In the days after immigration officers detained a pro-Palestinian activist on campus, the head of the Immigrants’ Rights Clinic at Columbia Law School has been inundated with inquiries from students seeking answers to basic questions. “I have been individually counseling students on whether or not they should travel abroad, on whether or not they should be posting on social media, on whether or not they can and should participate in a demonstration,” said Elora Mukherjee, a law school professor and clinic director. “Activities that were taken for granted just a week ago are now questions that students are asking: Should I do this? Should I do that? What are the risks?” Last weekend’s arrest of Mahmoud Khalil, a Palestinian refugee whose green card was revoked over his involvement in demonstrations at Columbia University, is having a chilling effect on college campuses across America, where students say they’re being forced to think carefully before exercising their constitutionally protected right to free speech. “This case sets a terrifying precedent for all students, particularly international students, particularly those on visas and green cards, but I think students in general should be horrified,” said Zaid, a student at the University of California, Berkeley, who asked that his full name not be used for fear of retribution. “What precedent are we setting for this entire nation, and for our First Amendment, if Khalil is deported, and who will be the next group targeted?” At Columbia, which has nearly 24,000 international students, Mukherjee said the Immigrants’ Rights Clinic is advising concerned students to keep a low profile to avoid the attention of the Trump administration.
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The Trump administration is tightening its grip on efforts to quash pro-Palestinian demonstrations on college campuses, even as a protest over the detention of activist Mahmoud Khalil flared at the president’s New York City residence and resistance efforts continue in the courts and beyond.