FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:

March 14, 2025

MEDIA CONTACT: 

e: jessica.myers@mail.house.gov

c: 202.913.0126

Washington, D.C. — Today, Congresswoman Yvette D. Clarke (NY-09) issued the following statement:

“Like many thousands of New Yorkers and countless other Americans, I am incredibly disturbed by the illegal detainment of Columbia University student, Mahmoud Khalil. You may disagree with his cause, you may disagree with his tactics, but the laws of this nation are clear. As are the facts of this matter: Mr. Khalil is a legal permanent resident and husband to a U.S. citizen who has been wrongfully arrested by the Department of Homeland Security on Donald Trump’s orders. Despite being charged with no crime, this administration has denied him access to his family and lawyer, denied him the due process our Constitution grants every person in the United States, and denied him a future in this country that he has every right to see.

“In this dire moment, we cannot and must not lose sight of the consequences of allowing the president’s overreach to go unchallenged. Our unambiguous rejection of Donald Trump’s cruelty, bigotry, and tyranny is the only acceptable path forward if we are to remain a nation of laws. Otherwise, I can say with certainty that Mahmoud Khalil will not be the last person this administration disappears for their political opinions. He will not be the last person of color with a legal right to be here to face an unconstitutional crusade toward their arrest and deportation. This crisis does not begin and end with the fate of one man. Our options are to rise today or find out which of our neighbors is next tomorrow. Donald Trump wants the American people to fear him. He will fail.

“For these critical reasons, I joined 105 of my colleagues in sending a letter to Secretary of Homeland Security Kristi Noem and Secretary of State Marco Rubio to demand answers regarding the detention of Mahmoud Khalil and the stripping of his green card – we expect their response promptly.”

Read the full letter here.

###