Democratic Lawmakers Visit Detained Students Khalil and Öztürk Amid Deportation Threats
Massachusetts lawmakers visit detained students Rümeysa Öztürk and Mahmoud Khalil, facing removal from the U.S. over activism, condemning inhumane conditions.
Overview
A group of Democratic lawmakers visited ICE detention facilities in Louisiana to meet Rümeysa Öztürk and Mahmoud Khalil, both facing deportation due to their pro-Palestinian activism. Senator Ed Markey and representatives from Massachusetts decried the conditions of their detention and the absence of charges against them, emphasizing concerns about due process and free speech violations. The Trump administration has labeled Khalil and Öztürk as national security threats due to their activism, arguing that they support terrorist activities. Critics claim their detainment reflects broader political motivations aimed at suppressing dissent.
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FAQ
The Trump administration argued that Mahmoud Khalil should be deported due to his links to protests at Columbia University against the war in Gaza, and they alleged that Rümeysa Öztürk had engaged in activities supporting Hamas, although she was detained after writing an op-ed calling for divestment from Israel and acknowledgment of the Palestinian genocide.
No, neither Mahmoud Khalil nor Rümeysa Öztürk has been charged with any crime, and the government has not presented any evidence of wrongdoing against them.
Democratic lawmakers condemned the inhumane detention conditions and emphasized the lack of due process and violations of free speech rights, noting that neither detainee has been charged or given evidence against them despite being held for weeks.
Senator Ed Markey, Representative Jim McGovern, and Representative Ayanna Pressley from Massachusetts were among the Democratic lawmakers who visited Mahmoud Khalil and Rümeysa Öztürk at ICE detention centers in Louisiana.
Rümeysa Öztürk has suffered several asthmatic attacks during her detention at ICE facilities.
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