ACLU’s Bhandari: You May Find Mahmoud Khalil’s Viewpoints Offensive But ‘the Constitution Protects Them’

EXCERPT:

BHANDARI: "Mr. Khalil’s case is going to be the first of many, according to the administration. He is not going to be the first person who’s going to be targeted for immigration consequences for his protected speech. I think one really important thing to emphasize here is, the government has been explicit that they are — they’re not saying he broke the law. They are being very explicit that the reason he is being detained and the reason they are seeking to revoke his green card is because of his advocacy, his expression and his protest work. Now, people may agree or disagree with Mr. Khalil’s viewpoints. They may even find them offensive. But the Constitution protects them. He’s a lawful permanent resident here who is entitled to the full protections of the First Amendment. And if the government can do this to. Mr. Khalil, they can do this to anyone else and they can do it on any other issue. Whether it’s climate change, whether it’s your views on the administration’s trade war, whether it’s your views on foreign policy involving Ukraine and Russia, the government can invoke that very same authority against any voice that opposes its policies."