Jewish Americans are coming together in a united front to condemn the detention of Palestinian activist Mahmoud Khalil and to demand that the Trump administration cease its crackdown on free speech under the guise of combating antisemitism. This collective action is unfolding both in the corridors of power and on the streets, as Jewish organizations, activists, and community leaders voice their outrage over what they see as a dangerous erosion of democratic norms. At the heart of this issue is the detention of Mahmoud Khalil, a Columbia University graduate student and green card holder, who was abruptly taken from his home in New York City by federal immigration agents without a warrant. Khalil, who has not been charged with any crime, was targeted for his involvement in anti-war student protests last year. His case has become a rallying cry for those who argue that the Trump administration is exploiting concerns about antisemitism to silence dissent and undermine constitutional rights.
A dozen Jewish organizations, including some that are traditionally pro-Israel, have joined forces to call on Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem to halt efforts to detain and deport individuals, particularly student visa holders and legal permanent residents, without due process. In a letter obtained by HuffPost, these organizations expressed deep concern that policies ostensibly aimed at fighting antisemitism are being used to target Muslim, Arab, and other minority communities. The letter drew parallels to historical instances where similar restrictions on free speech were used against Jewish people, warning that the same tactics are now being deployed against other vulnerable groups. The case of Mahmoud Khalil is seen as a stark example of this trend, with many arguing that his detention is a direct assault on free speech and due process.
The outcry over Khalil’s detention has spilled into the streets, with hundreds of Jewish New Yorkers, including rabbis and activists, gathering in protest. Demonstrators wearing red shirts emblazoned with the phrase “Not in Our Name” staged a sit-in at the lobby of Trump Tower, demanding Khalil’s immediate release. The protest resulted in the arrests of about 100 participants, according to Jewish Voice for Peace, one of the organizing groups. The rally was not just about Khalil’s case but also about rejecting what protesters see as the Trump administration’s cynical use of Jewish identity to justify its authoritarian agenda. Many activists and leaders have accused the president of exploiting legitimate concerns about rising antisemitism to advance policies that undermine democracy and target marginalized communities.
Khalil’s lawyers are fighting his detention in court, arguing for his return to New York while his habeas corpus petition is reviewed. During a recent hearing, a judge did not rule on whether Khalil should be brought back from the detention center in Louisiana but did order that he not be deported until his case is resolved. The legal battle over Khalil’s detention has highlighted the broader implications of the Trump administration’s policies, which critics say are designed to quash dissent and consolidate power. Columbia University professor Joseph Howley, who participated in last year’s anti-war protests alongside Khalil, condemned the administration’s actions, accusing it of using antisemitism as a pretext to suppress constitutionally protected speech. Howley and others have warned that the targeting of Khalil is part of a larger pattern of authoritarianism, one that echoes the tactics of fascist regimes.
The connection to fascism and authoritarianism is not lost on many Jewish activists, who draw on their community’s history of persecution to frame the current moment. Jane Hirschmann, whose family was victimized by the Nazis during the Holocaust, has called Khalil’s detention “further proof that we are on the brink of a full takeover by an authoritarian regime.” She and others argue that the Trump administration’s actions are part of a familiar pattern of scapegoating minorities to consolidate power, a tactic that has historically preceded greater repression. For many Jewish Americans, the echoes of the past are deeply unsettling, and they are urging others to take bold action to resist what they see as a slide into authoritarianism.
The timing of the protests coincided with the Jewish holiday of Purim, which commemorates the courage of Queen Esther in standing up to tyranny. Activists have drawn parallels between the story of Purim and the current struggle, noting that the holiday’s themes of resistance and solidarity are resonating deeply in this moment. For some, the fact that the Trump administration’s policies reflect a far-right Zionist blueprint known as “Project Esther” adds a layer of irony and urgency to the situation. As Jewish Americans reclaim the story of Purim to mobilize against injustice, they are also challenging the co-opting of their faith and history by those who seek to advance authoritarian and exclusionary agendas. The fight over Khalil’s detention is thus not just about one man’s freedom but about the very principles of democracy and the role of conscience in resisting oppression.
