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Legislators have expressed strong disapproval regarding the treatment of Mahmoud Khalil and Rümeysa Öztürk, two students held by US immigration authorities due to their pro-Palestinian activism, labeling it a “national disgrace.” This assessment followed their visit to the two detention facilities in Louisiana where the students are being held.
During a press conference post-visit, Congressman Troy Carter from Louisiana stated, “We stand firm with them in support of free speech. They are frightened, they’re concerned, they want to go home.” The sentiment underscored the urgency of their situation.
Both Khalil, a graduate of Columbia University, and Öztürk, pursuing her PhD at Tufts University, have faced detention for over a month without any charges of criminal conduct. Delegation members highlighted that their imprisonment represents a violation of constitutional rights.
The visiting delegation featured several prominent figures, including Carter, Bennie Thompson, Ayanna Pressley, Jim McGovern, Senator Ed Markey, and Alanah Odoms, executive director of the ACLU of Louisiana. They toured the South Louisiana Immigration Processing Center in Basile, where Öztürk is incarcerated, and the Central Louisiana Immigration Processing Center in Jena, where Khalil is being held.
During their visit, they engaged with both students and other detainees to perform “real-time oversight” of what Pressley referred to as a “rogue and lawless” administration.
This incident occurs alongside a broader crackdown on immigrants initiated by the Trump administration, which has been criticized for detaining individuals based on their constitutionally protected speech that opposes US foreign policy.
Markey remarked, “It’s a national disgrace what is taking place. We stand right now at a turning point in American history. The constitution is being eroded by the Trump administration. We saw today here in these detention centers in Louisiana examples of how far [it] is willing to go.”
McGovern characterized the detainees as political prisoners, asserting, “This is not about enforcing the law. This is moving us toward an authoritarian state.”
Öztürk was detained after co-authoring an article for her university’s newspaper that criticized the institution’s response to Israel’s military actions against Palestinians. Her situation has raised alarm as she reported being held in “unsanitary, unsafe, and inhumane” conditions and faced challenges in obtaining medical care.
Pressley conveyed concerns about Öztürk’s treatment during detention, claiming she was denied basic needs such as food and water, as well as legal representation. Khalil, in his detention, missed the birth of his first child, underscoring the severe personal impacts of these actions.
“They are setting the foundational floor to violate the due process and free speech of every person who calls this country home, whatever your status is,” Pressley warned, suggesting that any individual could face similar repercussions for various reasons.
The individuals in custody expressed feelings of fear and distress, with reports indicating insufficient healthcare and uncomfortable conditions within the facilities, including extreme cold temperatures.
“We have to resist, we have to push back. We’re a much better country than this,” McGovern emphasized, reinforcing the need for advocacy against these practices.
Earlier in the month, a judge determined that Khalil, who was instrumental in Columbia’s protests last year and has now been detained for over a month, may be eligible for deportation from the United States.
The Trump administration has contended that Khalil, a lawful permanent resident and the child of Palestinian refugees, possesses views that contradict the country’s foreign policy interests.
In a related incident, Senator Peter Welch from Vermont recently met with Mohsen Mahdawi, a Palestinian green-card holder and Columbia student who was detained during a naturalization interview.
Source
www.theguardian.com