WASHINGTON, D.C. — Congresswoman Madeleine Dean (PA-04) released the following statement on the arrest and threatened deportation of Columbia graduate student and activist, Mahmoud Khalil:
“Some of our most fundamental freedoms are enshrined in the First Amendment: freedom of speech and freedom of assembly.
Stamping out these liberties is a hallmark of authoritarian regimes — and the Trump Administration is following in that dangerous tradition by attempting to deport legal resident Mahmoud Khalil without sufficient evidence of wrongdoing or criminal activity.
While I strongly condemn some of the statements made by Mr. Khalil and individuals at his rallies surrounding Hamas’ terrorist attack on October 7 — I recognize that the freedom of speech that allows me to condemn those statements also allows any one of us to peacefully express our opinion.
The federal government’s revocation of Mr. Khalil’s residency and rights is a flagrant violation of our rule of law.
I urge my Republican colleagues to end their appalling silence in the face of this President and this Administration’s violations of our Constitution.
And I urge the President to reverse course immediately and return Mr. Khalil home to his wife in New York.”
Rep. Madeleine Dean is a mother, grandmother, attorney, professor, former four-term member of the Pennsylvania House of Representatives, and U.S. Representative for the Fourth District of Pennsylvania.
