Only 14 Democratic lawmakers signed a letter urging the release of Mahmoud Khalil, an anti-genocide Palestinian activist and U.S. green card holder.
Washington (Quds News Network)- Only 14 Democratic lawmakers signed a letter urging the release of Mahmoud Khalil, an anti-genocide Palestinian activist and U.S. green card holder. The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) detained him without charges for his activism at Columbia University.
“We are horrified by the illegal abduction and indefinite detention of Mahmoud Khalil,” the letter states. It demands his release from DHS custody.
The letter, addressed to DHS Secretary Kristi Noem, condemns the action. “Khalil has not been charged or convicted of any crime. As the Trump administration proudly admits, he was targeted solely for his activism,” it reads.
Representatives Rashida Tlaib, Ilhan Omar, Mark Pocan, Ayanna Pressley, Nydia M. Velázquez, Delia C. Ramirez, Jasmine rocket, Summer Lee, Lateefah Simon, Gwen S. Moore, Nikema Williams, Al Green, Andre Carson, and Jams McGovem signed the letter. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez did not sign, despite previously criticizing Khalil’s arrest.
Her claim is that "she was waiting for details from Mahmoud's lawyer". Not sure what details could be important enough to hold off on signing the letter.
Do you have a source for that? Your statement kind of sounds like likely misinformation because she signed on to a similar letter sent to acting ICE director yesterday and has been super outspoken about this
“If the federal government can disappear a legal US permanent resident without reason or warrant, then they can disappear US citizens too,” she wrote in a separate post. “Anyone—left, right, or center—who has highlighted the importance of constitutional rights + free speech should be sounding the alarm now.”
The absence of Representative Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez was noted given her previous criticism of Khalil’s arrest, but her chief of staff said she was waiting on one detail from Khalil’s legal team, when signing for the letter was closed. He added that she would sign the letter if it was still open.*