Trump’s Columbia University Arrest Exploits Antisemitism

March 10, 2025- Over the weekend, ICE arrested Mahmoud Khalil, a Green Card holder and Palestinian leader of protests at Columbia University. They did so because of his political activity. This afternoon, President Trump said that this will be the first of many such arrests.

America was founded to be a democracy. Arresting and/or deporting people because of their political views goes against the very foundation of our national identity and is profoundly un-American. Individuals who break the laws should be subject to our legal system -- broken though it is, but not for their political views. 

This is a civil rights issue and an astounding overreach that disregards the U.S. Constitution. It should concern every American. And it cannot be allowed to stand.

“President Trump is dressing up this assault on free speech and due process as if it was about fighting antisemitism,” said Hadar Susskind, President & CEO of New Jewish Narrative. “That is a lie. Trump is exploiting very real concerns about rising antisemitism to mask his anti-democratic agenda. He is both stoking anger against Jews and undermining genuine efforts to address antisemitism.”