“I expect the Department of Justice to work within the confines of the law,” said Rep. Adriano Espaillat, who counts Khalil as one of his constituents.

As protests arise and First Amendment questions mount surrounding the immigration detention of Mahmoud Khalil, Rep. Rashida Tlaib, D-Mich., penned and circulated a letter demanding the immediate release of the recent Columbia University graduate.

It found little support among Tlaib’s colleagues in Washington, with a mere 14 Democrats signing their names on the letter condemning Khalil’s detention as an “illegal abduction.”

Rep. Adriano Espaillat, D-N.Y., who counts Khalil as one of his constituents, did not sign the letter. When contacted by The Intercept about the case, Espaillat said he expects the Trump administration — which has explicitly flouted and sought to circumscribe federal legal protections for civil liberties — to adhere to the rule of law.

The Trump administration itself has admitted the case against Khalil does not hinge on allegations that he broke the law and told a conservative news outlet that it will these proceedings as a blueprint to target other students.

  • Mr_Crash_Davis@lemmy.world
    0·
    6 days ago

    If you’re a Democrat there is no political upside to coming out publicly for Khalil.

    I had read somewhere that Khalil has some diplomatic experience and possible connections to the UK. I’m wondering if the U.S. politicians know something about him that the rest of us don’t.

    • BertramDitore@lemm.eeEnglish
      0·
      6 days ago

      Staying silent on the unlawful detention and suppression of the first amendment rights of a legal permanent resident would be unforgivable. If this specific case doesn’t cause outrage and epitomize the lawlessness and cruelty of this administration, then nothing will.

      There is no political upside to staying silent on this issue. This is not the time to spread unsourced rumors about a facially law-abiding permanent resident, it’s the time to insist our government follow the laws that the rest of us are subject to. Follow due process, and if there are genuine issues with his case, deal with them within the bounds of the law. But keeping quiet and just assuming this administration will follow the law is foolish. We all need to loudly stand up for this man and his rights, otherwise no one will stand up for us when the time comes.

        • molten@lemmy.world
          1·
          6 days ago

          It’s hard to empathize because a tiny sect of people may have chosen not to vote for Joe Biden? Their votes certainly wouldn’t have impacted the election. They might as well protest vote. Do you think everybody who you decide made a misguided or stupid decision deserves massive consequences? Are we so retributive now that we can’t empathize with people because they didn’t fight against the consequences correctly beforehand?

        • EndlessApollo@lemmy.worldEnglish
          0·
          6 days ago

          So this is why liberals don’t give a shit about this?

          Damn y’all really are straight evil. “Some of these people didn’t side with me politically, so fuck all of them” literally not even trying to beat the “left wing of fascism” allegations.

          First they came for the Palestinians. I didn’t speak out because some of them voted for Trump so fuck all of them. You know how the rest goes, and hopefully you’re smart enough to know that that supporting or staying silent on this is horrible for everyone, even wh-te l-berals like you

          • UsernameHere@lemmy.world
            01·
            6 days ago

            I gave a shit. That’s why I voted for “Genocide Joe”. Because I wanted to prevent this. But you can’t save someone from themselves.

            • EndlessApollo@lemmy.worldEnglish
              1·
              6 days ago

              You only give a shit insofar at you can use it as a bludgeon to beat every Palestinian over the head with. Unless there some other reason why you’re so desperate to remind people “Palestinians deserve this for supporting Trump” multiple times on multiple posts?

              • UsernameHere@lemmy.world
                01·
                6 days ago

                I didn’t say they deserved it. That is you putting a spin on my words.

                Palestinian protestors chose to discourage voters from voting for “genocide Joe”.

                Even while so many predicted this outcome and tried to avoid it.

                • EndlessApollo@lemmy.worldEnglish
                  1·
                  6 days ago

                  "Palestinian protestors chose to discourage voters from voting for “genocide Joe”. " there were a bunch who didn’t tho. Afaik most pro-palestine protestors voted for Kamala, including Palestinians. And again, even if they’re a small group (I’m pretty sure they’re the majority) why are you bringing it up in every discussion about Palestine? Do you think we were all vocally against Biden, or are you saying nobody should’ve protested the genocide in the first place, or shouldn’t have blamed it on Biden?

            • EndlessApollo@lemmy.worldEnglish
              1·
              6 days ago

              It’s not even that deep down anymore cx at this point dems are literally at/right of Reagan on a ton of issues, and certainly more supportive of Israel

        • BertramDitore@lemm.eeEnglish
          0·
          6 days ago

          So because a small group of voters made a decision that you (and I) disagree with, their rights shouldn’t be protected by the law? That’s not how this is supposed to work.