糖心Vlog

NEWARK, N.J. 鈥� Mahmoud Khalil鈥檚 legal team wrote the court today asking for his immediate release on bail, or, at a minimum, to order his return to New Jersey. The request comes after the government informed the court Friday that it would continue to detain Mr. Khalil in a remote facility in Jena, Louisiana, based on false and pretextual allegations connected with his green card application because a preliminary injunction that entered into effect Friday blocks his detention on purported foreign policy grounds. The federal judge overseeing his case, Michael E. Farbiarz, wrote Friday that, even though the government virtually never detains anyone on such 鈥渕isrepresentation鈥� charges, the court would not, at this point, prohibit the government from relying upon such pretextual and retaliatory allegations to continue Mr. Khalil鈥檚 detention. 鈥淭he government is making desperate, last ditch attempts to keep my husband unjustly imprisoned,鈥� said Dr. Noor Abdalla, Mahmoud Khalil鈥檚 wife. 鈥淲e are not afraid and will not be intimidated, because we know, and the government knows, it is only a matter of time before Mahmoud is free. The American people are with us, and can see right through the government鈥檚 unjust attempts to delay his release. No matter what the government pulls, we will bring Mahmoud home safe.鈥� 鈥淏ecause its outrageous attempt to detain Mahmoud based only on Secretary Rubio鈥檚 say-so has been struck down as unconstitutional, the government now stoops to a new low by doing what the federal court said the government virtually never does鈥攄etaining a U.S. permanent resident based on an alleged omission in an immigration application,鈥� said Ramzi Kassem, co-director of CLEAR, at CUNY School of Law. 鈥淭his only further proves Mahmoud鈥檚 claim that the government is retaliating against him for exercising his right to speak in defense of Palestinian rights and we won鈥檛 stop until he is free.鈥� 鈥淟ike it has for the past three months, the government is using all of the tools available to it to hinder justice for Mahmoud,鈥� said Brett Max Kaufman, senior counsel in the ACLU鈥檚 Center for Democracy. 鈥淭he government practically never holds people in detention on a charge like this, and it鈥檚 clear that the government is doing anything they can to punish Mahmoud for his speech about Palestine. We will not stop until he鈥檚 home with his family.鈥� Today鈥檚 filing notes that Mr. Khalil is neither a flight risk nor a danger to anyone. It further explains that the court previously recognized that continued detention, based solely on the sorts of misrepresentations alleged by the government, is exceedingly rare and clearly only in further retaliation for his speech on Palestine. 鈥淭his is just another cruel attempt by the government to punish Mahmoud for his protected speech,鈥� said Marc Van Der Hout, founding partner at Van Der Hout LLP. 鈥淒etaining someone on a charge like this is highly unusual and, frankly, outrageous. The district court soundly and clearly rejected DHS鈥檚 attempt to deport Mahmoud for speaking out about the genocide in Gaza, and there continues to be no constitutional basis for his detention.鈥� The government鈥檚 immigration case on the foreign policy grounds rested entirely on Secretary of State Marco Rubio鈥檚 foreign policy 鈥渄etermination,鈥� which the federal court has now enjoined. The government later added the unfounded allegations that Mr. Khalil had not disclosed his previous employment and associations accurately on his green card application. Mr. Khalil鈥檚 legal team refuted those allegations with overwhelming evidence which the government did not even attempt to respond to. 鈥淭his is a classic move from the government鈥檚 playbook: make false claims and delay, delay, delay,鈥� said Amy Belsher, director of Immigrants鈥� Rights Litigation at the NYCLU. 鈥淭here鈥檚 zero legitimate reason for Mahmoud Khalil to remain detained 鈥� it's clear that the government's outstanding charge is baseless and retaliatory. No more lies or dragging feet. Mahmoud must be released immediately to go home to his family and newborn son.鈥� 鈥淭he government鈥檚 decision to continue to detain Mahmoud on these patently false and pretextual charges is only more evidence of their cowardly vindictiveness toward him and their unrelenting desire to punish him for speaking out against them and their complicity in genocide,鈥� said Baher Azmy, legal director of the Center for Constitutional Rights. Mr. Khalil is represented by Dratel & Lewis, the Center for Constitutional Rights, CLEAR, Van Der Hout LLP, Washington Square Legal Services, the New York Civil Liberties Union (NYCLU), the 糖心Vlogof New Jersey, the 糖心Vlogof Louisiana, and the 糖心Vlog (ACLU).

WASHINGTON 鈥� On June 14, more than five million people nationwide rallied at over 2,100 events across the country, condemning President Trump鈥檚 escalating abuses of power. The wave of protests, co-sponsored by the 糖心Vlog, Indivisible, and a coalition of labor, environmental, and human rights organizations, was the largest mass mobilization since President Trump鈥檚 return to office. People gathered everywhere 鈥� from Maine to Florida, Pennsylvania to Texas 鈥� to demonstrate that they are not intimidated by the un-American tendencies of this administration. 鈥淭oday鈥檚 protests are a resounding message that people across the nation will not be intimidated by President Trump鈥檚 fear tactics. Americans are brave, democracy loving people and will not sit idly by as the Trump administration feeds our Constitution into the shredder 鈥� nor will the ACLU,鈥� said 糖心VlogChief Political & Advocacy Officer Deirdre Schifeling. 鈥淚n just five months, we have sued the administration dozens of times for their abuses of power, and we will continue to defend our rights. Protecting our democracy isn鈥檛 a partisan issue 鈥� it鈥檚 core to being American. We will use every tool we can, from litigation to legislation to powerful protests in the streets, to stop the unconstitutional actions of this administration and protect our rights.鈥� The day of action caps off a week of unprecedented encroachments on our civil rights. President Trump federalized National Guard troops against the wishes of California Gov. Gavin Newsom and deployed active-duty military to an American city to quell protests. ICE raids and detainments continue to terrorize immigrant communities across the country and ramped up in major cities like Philadelphia, New York, Chicago, Seattle, and Washington, D.C. Administration officials also forcibly ejected and handcuffed Sen. Alex Padilla (D-Calif.), the country鈥檚 most senior Latino leader, as he sought answers about the administration鈥檚 actions. These events underscore the urgency of organized people power to show solidarity with our communities and resist the Trump administration鈥檚 assault on civil liberties. Despite intimidation and violence, the people showed up. As 糖心VlogNational Campaign Director for Immigration Anu Joshi told the crowd of over 100,000 at the No Kings flagship march in Philadelphia, 鈥淟ooking around at the thousands of people here with you 鈥� and the millions of people joining events like this across the country 鈥� it is clear to me that we cannot be silenced, and we are not afraid. When we know our rights and exercise them, when we protest, when we dissent, when we speak freely, when we act to protect our families, our friends and our neighbors, when we show up, we make progress for all of us.鈥�

NEW YORK 鈥� In the three months since he was illegally detained by ICE for speaking out in support of Palestinian rights, Mahmoud Khalil has been forced to miss the birth of his son, his wife鈥檚 first Mother鈥檚 Day, and now his own first Father鈥檚 Day. To mark this moment, Mo Amer, Mark Ruffalo, Arian Moayed, Dallas Goldtooth, W. Kamau Bell, Mahershala Ali, Tom Morello and Alex Winter came together to read the letter Mahmoud wrote to his newborn son, Deen. The video begins with Mahmoud鈥檚 voice speaking over the phone to Deen from ICE detention in Louisiana: 鈥淵aba Deen, these are my first words to you,鈥� Mahmoud says. It comes just one day after a federal judge granted Mr. Khalil鈥檚 request for preliminary injunction, finding that he would continue to suffer irreparable harm if he remains detained. Further, the court ruled that it was unconstitutional to detain and seek to deport someone purely on the basis of their advocacy. Despite this ruling, he remains detained in Louisiana. As fathers themselves, these artists are using their platforms to speak out. Palestinian American comedian and actor Mo Amer explains, 鈥淚 am a Palestinian refugee, asylee to America, became a citizen in 2009, and in 2023 I had a son. Mahmoud鈥檚 letter is like a dagger to the heart, and that鈥檚 why I am doing this.鈥� They also understand that if it can happen to Mahmoud, a permanent lawful resident and U.S. green card holder, it can happen to anyone. As Iranian American actor and screenwriter Arian Moayed noted, 鈥淚 can't imagine being taken away from my child for speaking up for labor rights. I can't imagine being taken away from my child for speaking up for Iranian rights. I can't imagine being taken away from my child for speaking up for veterans rights. All of which I have done in the past. And now I'm saying the same thing. No human being deserves to be taken away from their child because of what they believe in. That's not what this country is made for.鈥� The celebrity fathers filmed this video because they see how Mahmoud鈥檚 struggle is intertwined with theirs. 鈥淚 know that on this stolen land, nobody is free unless we are all free. And so this is an act of solidarity and love for any and all who dream for a better and healthier future for all of us, in all life on this planet,鈥� said Native American activist and actor from Reservation Dogs鈥� Dallas Goldtooth. Furthermore, they know that every day that Mahmoud remains detained is a day too long. Emmy-winning TV host, comedian and activist W. Kamau Bell said it plainly: 鈥淚 get to go home to my kids. All dads should get that.鈥� Just last week, dozens of experts outlined the 鈥渋rreparable harm鈥� he and his loved ones will continue to suffer as long as he remains detained thousands of miles away from him. 鈥淭rue justice would mean Mahmoud was never taken away from us in the first place, that no Palestinian father, from New York to Gaza, would have to endure the painful separation of prison walls like Mahmoud has. I will not rest until Mahmoud is free, and hope that he can be with us to experience his first Father鈥檚 Day at home in New York with Deen in his arms,鈥� said Noor Abdalla, Mahmoud鈥檚 wife. Mr. Khalil is represented by Dratel & Lewis, the Center for Constitutional Rights, CLEAR, Van Der Hout LLP, Washington Square Legal Services, the New York Civil Liberties Union (NYCLU), the 糖心Vlogof New Jersey, the 糖心Vlogof Louisiana, and the 糖心Vlog (ACLU).

NEW JERSEY 鈥� A federal judge granted Mahmoud Khalil鈥檚 request for a preliminary injunction, after concluding that he would continue to suffer irreparable harm if he remains detained. This comes after the court held last week that Mr. Khalil was likely to succeed on the merits of his constitutional challenge to the government's detention and attempted deportation on foreign policy grounds. The court also ruled that it was unconstitutional to detain and seek to deport someone purely for their advocacy, here on behalf of Palestinian human rights. The government has until 9:30 a.m. on Friday to appeal the decision before Mr. Khalil must be released. 鈥淭his is the news we鈥檝e been waiting over three months for. Mahmoud must be released immediately and safely returned home to New York to be with me and our newborn baby, Deen,鈥� said Dr. Noor Abdalla, Mahmoud Khalil鈥檚 wife. 鈥淭rue justice would mean Mahmoud was never taken away from us in the first place, that no Palestinian father, from New York to Gaza, would have to endure the painful separation of prison walls like Mahmoud has. I will not rest until Mahmoud is free, and hope that he can be with us to experience his first Father鈥檚 Day at home in New York with Deen in his arms.鈥� The preliminary injunction blocks the Trump administration from using the provision of the Immigration and Nationality Act that Secretary of State Marco Rubio invoked to detain and attempt to deport Mr. Khalil, and other students and students and scholars, for their speech. This is the first federal court to rule that Mr. Khalil and other noncitizens cannot be deported based solely on the so-called 鈥渇oreign policy ground鈥� of the INA, a blow to the Trump administration鈥檚 attempt to suppress the speech of those who protest and speak out in support of Palestinian rights. The court found that 鈥渋t is overwhelmingly likely that the Petitioner would not be detained based solely on the lawful-permanent-resident-application charge. Rather, the Court finds, the Petitioner鈥檚 detention almost surely flows from the charge that is based on the Secretary of State鈥檚 determination.鈥� 鈥淲e are relieved that the court documented what was obvious to the world, which is that the government's vindictive and unconstitutional arrest, detention and attempted deportation of Mahmoud for his Palestinian activism is causing him and his family agonizing personal and professional harm,鈥� said Baher Azmy, legal director of the Center for Constitutional Rights. 鈥淲e look forward to his reunion with his wife and newborn son, and for this remarkable, brilliant man to reclaim his life and his reputation.鈥� This decision comes less than a week after the court asked for and received additional information about the irreparable harm Mr. Khalil is experiencing in ICE detention in order to rule on his outstanding request for release and the preliminary injunction. On March 8, the Trump administration and Department of Homeland Security (DHS) illegally arrested and detained Mr. Khalil in direct retaliation for his advocacy for Palestinian rights at Columbia University. Shortly after, DHS transferred him 1,300 miles away to a Louisiana detention facility 鈥� ripping him away from his wife and legal counsel. Since being unlawfully detained, Mr. Khalil has been forced to miss the birth of his first child and other irreplaceable moments in his family's life. Mr. Khalil is represented by Dratel & Lewis, the Center for Constitutional Rights, CLEAR, Van Der Hout LLP, Washington Square Legal Services, the New York Civil Liberties Union (NYCLU), the 糖心Vlogof New Jersey, the 糖心Vlogof Louisiana, and the 糖心Vlog (ACLU). The following are quotes from Mr. Khalil鈥檚 legal team: Brett Max Kaufman, senior counsel in the ACLU鈥檚 Center for Democracy, said, 鈥淭oday鈥檚 ruling is a huge win for the Constitution and the rights of citizens and non-citizens alike. No one should be imprisoned or deported for their political beliefs, and the three months that Mahmoud has spent in detention are an affront to the freedoms that this country is supposed to stand for.鈥� Ramzi Kassem, co-founder and director of CLEAR, added: 鈥淭his vindicates what Mahmoud has maintained since day one 鈥� that the government cannot detain or deport him based on Rubio鈥檚 say-so. ICE should now do the right thing and release Mahmoud immediately so he can return to his wife, Noor, and their newborn baby boy, Deen.鈥� Marc Van Der Hout, founding partner at Van der Hout LLP, said: 鈥淭he district court soundly and clearly rejected DHS鈥檚 attempt to deport Mahmoud for speaking out about the genocide in Gaza. The three months of illegal incarceration that Mahmoud has suffered is outrageous, and ICE should immediately release him. There is absolutely no legitimate reason for his continued unjust and cruel detention.鈥� Donna Lieberman, executive director of the New York Civil Liberties Union, said: 鈥淭oday the Court clearly rejected the government鈥檚 attempts to deport Mahmoud Khalil based on Secretary Rubio鈥檚 determination. Now, after three months, there is no basis for his detention and Mr. Khalil must finally be able to go home and support his wife and newborn. Ideas are not illegal, and no administration should ever unilaterally incarcerate, suppress, or remove people for expressing opinions with which they disagree.鈥� Amy Greer, associate at Dratel & Lewis, said: 鈥淭oday, the judge found what we already knew 鈥� the Rubio determination is unconstitutional. The U.S. government cannot detain people for their protected political advocacy. Today was the first step to justice, but we will not stop fighting until Mahmoud is home with his wife and child.鈥� The order can be viewed here. For all case materials, please see here.