Consider This from NPR: Campus Protesters and Deportation Threats

Episode: Campus protesters have faced deportation threats before
Release Date: March 26, 2025

In this compelling episode of NPR's Consider This, host Juana Summers delves into the pressing issue of foreign-born students on American campuses facing deportation threats due to their activism. Through personal narratives, historical parallels, and expert legal insights, the episode unpacks the intersection of free speech, immigration policy, and government overreach.

Personal Stories of Deportation Threats

Nora Abdullah's Ordeal

The episode opens with a poignant account from Nora Abdullah, whose husband, Mahmoud Khalil, a Columbia University graduate student and legal U.S. resident, was abruptly arrested by Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents on March 8th.

"He's like, 'Are you Mahmoud Khalil?' Mahmoud said, 'Yes.' And he says, 'I'm with the police. You have to come with us.' I think at that point, like, honestly, like, my heart sank."
— Nora Abdullah [00:30]

Nora describes the emotional turmoil she experiences daily, grappling with constant calls and the fear of losing her husband.

"It's been very overwhelming. It's like when I wake up in the morning, it's a lot of like, just go, go, go. Call after call after call. It really, I don't think it like, hits me until like, sorry, I'm a mess this morning."
— Nora Abdullah [00:00]

Despite the government's allegations labeling Mahmoud as a Hamas sympathizer—a claim Nora vehemently denies—Mahmoud remains detained without any formal charges.

"I just want to be clear that the smears against Mahmoud are exactly that. They're smears. He has and always will stand up for what's right and the way that he was taken from his family was, was not right."
— Nora Abdullah [00:54]

Ranjani Srinivasan's Flight to Canada

Ranjani Srinivasan, a 37-year-old architect and doctoral candidate at Columbia, shares her experience of having her visa revoked amid accusations of advocating for terrorism.

"I'm not a terrorist sympathizer. I'm not pro Hamas. And I think it's really dangerous to label any free speech that, you know, somebody disagrees with or any sort of peaceful objection to global issues, as, you know, terrorism, I think it just creates a climate of fear."
— Ranjani Srinivasan [02:08]

Choosing safety over risk, Ranjani fled to Canada after attending protests against civilian killings in the Israel-Hamas conflict, highlighting the severe personal costs of such government actions.

Historical Context: The LA8 Case of 1987

Juana Summers draws a historical parallel to the LA8 case from January 1987, where eight immigrants, predominantly students advocating for Palestinian rights, were arrested at gunpoint by federal agents.

"In January of 1987, Michel Shahada, a Palestinian man who'd lawfully emigrated to the United States as a teenager, was taking care of his toddler son at home when federal agents arrived at his door and arrested him at gunpoint."
— Juana Summers [03:00]

Much like today’s cases, the LA8 were detained not for any criminal activity but for their political activism. The government's long-term legal battle against them spanned two decades, emphasizing the persistent nature of such tactics against pro-Palestinian voices.

Expert Insights: David Cole on Legal Battles and Free Speech

Legal expert David Cole, former attorney for the LA8 and Georgetown Law professor, offers a deep analysis of the current deportation campaigns against student activists.

Similarities Between LA8 and Current Cases

"It's really deja vu all over again. The government is targeting Palestinians engaged in nothing more than protest activities on campuses. Why? Because the government disagrees with the viewpoints expressed."
— David Cole [06:28]

Cole underscores the government's pattern of suppressing dissenting voices by equating activism with national security threats, a tactic he describes as a "weaponization of antisemitism" to undermine liberal institutions like universities.

First Amendment Protections

A central theme in Cole's discussion is the robust protection of free speech under the First Amendment, which he argues extends to all individuals in the U.S., regardless of citizenship status.

"The First Amendment protects all of us in the United States. It doesn't limit its protections to citizens... The government can't prosecute you for burning an American flag or for saying something offensive or for advocating in favor of Palestinian rights or against Israel. And it also can't deport you for doing the same thing."
— David Cole [06:28]

Cole critiques the Trump administration's use of obscure legal provisions from the Immigration and Nationality Act to justify deportations based on "adverse foreign policy consequences," a notion he finds both absurd and unconstitutional.

"The notion that a college student's speech on a single campus in the United States somehow poses serious adverse foreign policy consequences is laughable."
— David Cole [09:04]

Potential Ripple Effects on Free Speech

Cole warns that successful deportations of activists like Mahmoud Khalil or Badar Khansouri could instill a "tremendous chill" across the nation, deterring free expression and activism.

"If you, you know, if you're a student on any campus and a foreign national and you see what the government is trying to do to Kahlil and Mr. Khansuri simply because of their pure speech, you're going to shut up."
— David Cole [11:03]

Legal and Social Implications

The episode highlights the Trump administration's aggressive stance on deporting foreign-born students involved in pro-Palestinian activism, invoking national security as a pretext. This approach not only challenges the constitutional protections afforded by the First Amendment but also threatens to dismantle the very fabric of academic freedom and civil society by targeting universities as bastions of liberal thought and criticism.

Cole emphasizes that such legal maneuvers are not only unjust but also undermine America's foundational values of free speech and open discourse.

Conclusion: The Ongoing Struggle for Free Expression

NPR's Consider This episode paints a sobering picture of the current climate surrounding campus activism and immigration policy. By juxtaposing personal stories with historical cases and expert legal analysis, the episode underscores the critical importance of defending free speech rights against governmental overreach. As the fight for Mahmoud Khalil and others continues, the broader implications for free expression in the United States hang in the balance, calling on citizens and institutions alike to stand against such infringements.

This summary captures the essence of the podcast episode, providing a comprehensive overview for those who haven't listened while highlighting key discussions and insights shared by the speakers.