Last year, pro-Palestinian “liberation zones” popped up all over American campuses, demanding that universities divest from Israel and advocating for an end to the war in Gaza. Now, ICE’s arrest and detainment of Mahmoud Khalil, a leader in Columbia University’s student protests, has created a climate of fear and frustration among student protesters across the country. 

Khalil was arrested and forced into an unmarked car before being taken to a detention facility in Louisiana. He has not been accused of a crime. This case deals calls norms of immigration law into question. But also, importantly, how the government interprets our constitution’s First Amendment is at stake. 

Guest: Juliette Majid, former student activist, and Genevive Lakier, Professor of Law at the University of Chicago. 

 

Related Links: 

How a Columbia Student Activist Landed in Federal Detention — NYT

I am a Palestinian political prisoner in the US. I am being targeted for my activism — The Guardian

The Case of Mahmoud Khalil — The New Yorker

 

Thank you to the supporters of KUOW. You help make this show possible! If you want to help out, go to kuow.org/donate/soundsidenotes.

Soundside is a production of KUOW in Seattle, a proud member of the NPR Network.

Last year, pro-Palestinian &ldquo;liberation zones&rdquo; popped up all over American campuses, demanding that universities divest from Israel and advocating for an end to the war in Gaza. Now, ICE&rsquo;s arrest and detainment of Mahmoud Khalil, a leader in Columbia University&rsquo;s student protests, has created a climate of fear and frustration among student protesters across the country.&nbsp;
Khalil was arrested and forced into an unmarked car before being taken to a detention facility in Louisiana. He has not been accused of a crime. This case deals calls norms of immigration law into question. But also, importantly, how the government interprets our constitution&rsquo;s First Amendment is at stake.&nbsp;
Guest: Juliette Majid, former student activist, and Genevive Lakier, Professor of Law at the University of Chicago.&nbsp;
&nbsp;
Related Links:&nbsp;
<a href="https://www.nytimes.com/2025/03/16/nyregion/mahmoud-khalil-columbia-university.html">How a Columbia Student Activist Landed in Federal Detention</a> &mdash; NYT
<a href="https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2025/mar/19/mahmoud-khalil-statement">I am a Palestinian political prisoner in the US. I am being targeted for my activism</a> &mdash; The Guardian
<a href="https://www.newyorker.com/magazine/2025/03/24/the-case-of-mahmoud-khalil">The Case of Mahmoud Khalil</a> &mdash; The New Yorker
&nbsp;
Thank you to the supporters of KUOW. You help make this show possible! If you want to help out, go to <a href="http://kuow.org/donate/soundsidenotes">kuow.org/donate/soundsidenotes</a>.
Soundside is a production of KUOW in Seattle, a proud member of the NPR Network.

Soundside

On March 8, Columbia University student activist Mahmoud Khalil was arrested and detained by the Department of Home Security without due process. His case has put our country’s First Amendment to the test. 

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