On 8 March US immigration authorities unlawfully arrested and arbitrarily detained Mahmoud Khalil for his role in student protests at Columbia University. Authorities revoked his permanent residency status under a rarely used law and placed him into deportation proceedings. At least nine other students are known to have been similarly targeted for their protest or expressive activity. Hundreds more have had their visas revoked with different and minimal justifications. We demand US authorities stop the retaliatory or unjustified revocation of students’ visas and residency status and respect their rights to freedom of expression, peaceful assembly, due process and freedom from discrimination.
