Chicago Muslim Civil Rights Group Condemns Trump’s Immigration Crackdown of Pro-Palestinian Students — CAIR-Chicago

President Donald Trump has pledged to deport students who, he said, engage in “pro-terrorist, anti-Semitic, anti-American activity,” a label the administration has applied broadly to those who criticize Israel and protest its military campaign in Gaza.

This month, federal immigration authorities also arrested Palestinian activist Mahmoud Khalil who helped lead pro-Palestinian protests at Columbia University. A University of Alabama student from Iran was also detained by federal authorities, the university confirmed, but it is not clear why the student Alireza Doroudi, as reported by the student newspaper the Crimson White, was detained.

CAIR-Chicago released a statement calling for Illinois elected officials to investigate and halt the Trump administration’s “politically motivated deportations of international students and scholars for their protected Free Speech,” in addition to demanding their release.

The organization also condemned Israel’s ongoing attacks in Gaza and called for a permanent ceasefire and the end of a blockade on humanitarian aid to Palestinians.

“We’ve been at this podium several times over the past few months making the same demands, the same calls to our public officials, and these calls seem to fall on deaf ears,” Rehab said.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.

Contact Eunice Alpasan: ealpasan@wttw.com