Rubio says revocation of Mahmoud Khalil green card ‘not about free speech’

Secretary of State Marco Rubio has come under fire for defending the detention and possible deportation of former Columbia University protest organizer Mahmoud Khalil. Critics argue that this action goes against the First Amendment right to free speech. However, Rubio made it clear that the issue is not about free speech but rather about national security concerns.

Rubio, speaking to reporters at Shannon Airport in Ireland, emphasized that individuals who come to the United States on visas do not have an inherent right to stay if they engage in activities that are deemed harmful to the country. He highlighted Khalil’s support for Hamas, a terrorist organization, and his involvement in anti-Jewish activities on campus as grounds for revoking his visa and green card.

Khalil, who was born in Syria to Palestinian parents, was granted a student visa to attend Columbia University in 2022. Since then, he has obtained a green card and is married to an American citizen. However, his activities on campus have raised concerns about potential national security threats, prompting federal immigration authorities to arrest him and transport him to a detention center in Louisiana.

A federal judge in Manhattan has temporarily blocked Khalil’s deportation, citing potential violations of his constitutional rights to free speech and due process. Khalil’s lawyers argue that his detention was unjust and are pushing for his return to New York.

The White House press secretary, Karoline Leavitt, defended Rubio’s decision to revoke Khalil’s green card, stating that individuals who pose a threat to national security can have their visas and green cards revoked. President Donald Trump also voiced support for Khalil’s deportation, calling him a troublemaker and agitator who sided with terrorists.

Overall, Rubio’s defense of Khalil’s detention and potential deportation underscores the government’s commitment to safeguarding national security interests. While critics may argue that this action infringes on free speech rights, Rubio maintains that individuals who engage in activities that harm the country have no inherent right to remain in the United States.