Trump's Second Term Faces Free Speech Protests

Mahmoud Khalil, a Palestinian activist and former Columbia University student, faces deportation after being detained by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement for his involvement in pro-Palestinian protests. His arrest has sparked nationwide protests, including a notable demonstration at Trump Tower by Jewish Voice for Peace, with participants advocating for his release and denouncing the detention as an attack on free speech. The Trump administration claims Khalil's activities pose potential foreign policy risks, referencing the U.S. Immigration and Nationality Act to justify his deportation, although he has not been charged with any crime. Khalil's lawyers argue that his detention violates First Amendment rights, viewing it as political retaliation for his activism against Israel's military operations in Gaza. The case highlights tensions between free speech rights and national security policies under the Trump administration, and Khalil's deportation is currently on hold pending legal challenges.