President Trump and ICE's arrest of Mahmoud Khalil was unlawful and politically motivated– setting a dangerous precedent that threatens us all. And Trump stated yesterday that this is “the first arrest of many to come.”

It doesn’t matter where you stand on Israel/Palestine. This is about freedom of speech and upholding the rule of law. If the administration is willing to cast aside the law to crack down on Mahmoud’s political expression, who will they target next?

Regardless of what the ultimate charges against Khalil may be, or their legitimacy, the Trump administration’s effort to stifle dissent and target individuals for their political views is fundamentally un-American. It's a dangerous escalation of the administration’s attacks on our democratic freedoms.

The Trump administration must uphold Mr. Khalil’s right to due process and release him from detention immediately. And our local elected officials must speak up for the rule of law and our fundamental rights. Call your NYC Council Member today and demand they speak up for Mahmoud Khalil.

1. Find your NYC Council Member and their phone number here.

2. Give them a call. If you're not sure what to say, here's a script you can use:

“Hi, my name is [NAME] and I’m calling to urge [COUNCIL MEMBER] to call for the immediate release of Mahmoud Khalil.

Mr. Khalil’s arrest was unlawful and politically motivated– as a permanent resident, he cannot be legally detained without a charge or deported without a conviction. President Trump is trampling our First Amendment rights and ignoring the rule of law.

Please do everything in your power to call for Mahmoud Khalil’s release and see to his right to due process. Thank you.”

3. Log your call using this form to let us know how it went.