Fourteen House Democrats Demand Release of Mahmoud Khalil from DHS Secretary Kristi Noem Amid Pro-Hamas Protests

Fourteen Democratic lawmakers have signed a letter addressed to Department of Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem, demanding the immediate release of Mahmoud Khalil, a former Columbia University student and U.S. legal permanent resident. The letter criticizes Khalil's detention, which is linked to his campus activism that has been described as 'pro-Hamas.' Lawmakers, including Reps. Rashida Tlaib, Ilhan Omar, and Ayanna Pressley, have condemned the action as an infringement on free speech and an act of anti-Palestinian racism. Despite the call from the fourteen members, there are notable omissions among the signatories, including prominent figures like Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez. Khalil's detention has sparked outrage among activists and lawmakers, with protests occurring in support of his release, leading to arrests by the NYPD of demonstrators advocating for him.