Congressional lawmakers harshly criticized the treatment of Mahmoud Khalil and Rümeysa Özturk, two students detained by U.S. immigration authorities for their pro-Palestinian activism, labeling it a “national disgrace” during their visit to facilities in Louisiana where the students are being held.
Tufts University PhD student Öztürk and Columbia University graduate Khalil have been detained for over a month without any criminal accusations. They are reportedly being held without respect for their constitutional rights, which gained concern from the visiting delegation composed of lawmakers including Troy Carter, Bennie Thompson, Ayanna Pressley, Jim McGovern, Senator Ed Markey, and Alanah Odoms, the executive director of the ACLU of Louisiana. The group visited the South Louisiana ICE processing center in Basile, where Öztürk is held, and the Central Louisiana ICE processing center in Jena to see Khalil.
Pressley stated that the delegation aimed to conduct “real-time oversight” of what she termed a “rogue and lawless” administration. The detention of Khalil and Öztürk is part of the broader context of the Trump administration’s aggressive immigration policies, which include the removal and detention of people for constitutionally protected free speech that opposes U.S. foreign policy.
Markey referred to their detention as a “national disgrace” and warned about the erosion of the Constitution under the current administration. McGovern described those in detention as political prisoners and indicated the trend towards an authoritarian state.
Öztürk, who has written critically about her university’s response to Israel’s treatment of Palestinians, has claimed that her conditions are “unsanitary, unsafe, and inhumane.” She was denied food, water, and legal counsel upon her arrest. Khalil missed the birth of his first child and both detainees have complained about the lack of necessary healthcare and uncomfortably cold conditions.
The delegation expressed deep concerns and emphasized the need for resistance against these practices. The detention of these students represents a violation of due process and free speech rights and could impact any individual in the United States.
Earlier, a judge ruled that Khalil, a lawful permanent U.S. resident and child of Palestinian refugees, could be deported based on beliefs deemed contrary to U.S. foreign policy interests. Senator Peter Welch of Vermont also met with Mohsen Mahdawi, a Palestinian green card holder and Columbia student who was detained during a naturalization interview.
Source: https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2025/apr/22/mahmoud-khalil-rumeysa-ozturk-ice-detention
