Rubio Defends Khalil's Detention: 'Not About Free Speech'
Secretary of State Marco Rubio emphasized that the detention and possible deportation of Mahmoud Khalil is not a free speech issue but a matter of visa and immigration policy.
During a press conference at Shannon Airport in Ireland, Secretary of State Marco Rubio addressed the controversy surrounding the detention of Mahmoud Khalil, a former Columbia University student and anti-Israel protest organizer. Rubio clarified that Khalil’s situation is ’not about free speech,’ but rather about the conditions under which Khalil entered and remained in the United States.
Khalil, who was born in Syria to Palestinian parents, entered the U.S. on a student visa in 2022 and later obtained a green card. He was arrested last Saturday at his university-owned apartment in New York and moved to a detention center in Louisiana. Rubio explained that Khalil’s visa would have been denied if he had disclosed intentions to support Hamas and engage in disruptive activities on campus.
Rubio’s comments came amidst a legal battle in Manhattan, where U.S. District Judge Jesse Furman temporarily blocked Khalil’s deportation. Khalil’s attorneys argue that his rights to free speech and due process were violated, challenging the Trump administration’s decision to revoke his green card. The administration, however, maintains that the Southern District of New York is an improper venue for the case.
The White House has supported Rubio’s stance, with Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt stating that the Immigration and Nationality Act allows for the revocation of visas or green cards from individuals deemed adversarial to U.S. foreign policy and national security interests. This position aligns with President Donald Trump’s recent comments, where he promised more actions against those involved in antisemitic campus unrest.
As the debate continues, Khalil’s case has sparked protests and raised questions about the balance between free speech and national security. Rubio’s firm stance underscores the administration’s commitment to enforcing immigration policies, particularly when national security is at stake.