Jewish Americans Are Sick Of Trump Exploiting Them

The community is uniting against Mahmoud Khalil's abduction, demanding the government stop its free speech crackdown disguised as fighting antisemitism.

Whether it’s in the halls of power or out in the streets, Jewish Americans are uniting against the abduction of Palestinian activist Mahmoud Khalil — and demanding the Trump administration stop its free speech crackdown under the guise of fighting antisemitism.

A dozen Jewish organizations — including some pro-Israel groups — called Thursday for Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem to stop efforts to detain and deport those who are student visa holders or legal permanent residents without due process, according to a letter first obtained by HuffPost.

“In the past, laws and policies that limit the right to free speech have often been wielded against the Jewish community, and we are worried that we are seeing signs that they are being wielded against Muslim, Arab and other minority communities now,” the letter said, particularly expressing concern for Khalil.

A green card holder himself, Khalil and his pregnant wife had just reached their university-owned apartment in New York City on Saturday when federal immigration agents took him without a warrant and sent him to a detention center in Louisiana. The Columbia University graduate was abducted for helping lead anti-war student protests last year on campus and has not been charged with a crime.

“President Trump is dressing up his assault on free speech and due process as if it was about fighting antisemitism. That is a lie,” New Jewish Narrative President Hadar Susskind told HuffPost. “Trump is exploiting very real concerns about rising antisemitism to mask his anti-democratic agenda. As a Jew, I am offended and worried.”