Concerns Over Deportations and Campus Funding Cancellations - Potential Future Implications

"The slippery slope..."

I’m scarcely a civil liberties activist or a Constitutional lawyer. (I’m not any kind of lawyer!) And I’m certainly not a strong supporter of much of the work of the ACLU (although I did have a grudging admiration - mixed with bewilderment and totally opposition - for the ACLU’s late 1970s defending Nazis marching through the town of Skokie, Illinois. (I Think the ACLU may have “moved on” from such “purist” views!)

I totally deplore Mahmoud Khalil’s Columbia actions not to mention all those other anti-Israel - and often antisemitic - “happenings” on various campuses across America. Many of which have escalated from simply quietly protesting to engaging in intimidation and violence and antisemitism. I think it’s way past time since campuses cracked down and followed their own rules.

I have no problem with Mahmour Khalil and others being expelled from colleges and banned from campuses if they’ve violated college regulations. If authorities believed they’ve “seriously” broken laws; that they be criminally charged.

However I think there’s a serious difference and a major ”Escalation” between expelling people from campus - and deporting them. That’s true even for people just on a tourist or student visa - an action which should be taken only after something egregious; not just a technically. (Obviously their visa requires them to be a student; so that is that.)

But in my view; it’s even more true for people who are permanent residents of the United States - Green Card holders. Do I believer that in extremis; that action should be taken? Possibly. But only on really, really solid grounds for really-serious “National Security” or high-criminal offenses. And use of such authority should be held in abeyance.

I also think that certain actions which taken in isolation may sound very appealing. But they set a terrible precedent. (Or if perhaps not a precedent; then at least making them more of a norm. Presumably such deportations have occurred in the past. In a few isolated cases (such as former-Nazis who lied on their immigration forms; they even had their full US Citizenship revoked.

This is not a defense of critics of Israel - as some reading this might perhaps charge. For what it’s worth: I’m a fully-committed Zionist and totally pro-Israel (having spent almost 40 years working for the American Israel Public Affairs Committee (AIPAC) before my departure last Fall.) And as I said the actions on Campus these past 18 months (and even before) and the failures of Campus Administrators to deal it with it have been beyond the pale.

But once you do start making this a norm or a sword of Damocles to hang over all Permanent residents; then this “threat” can extend anywhere, far beyond than critics of Israel. It could be used to silence any criticism of any policy to intimidate people from speaking out on anything - including US Government policies.

I have similar views about the recently-announced Government “Defunding” of Columbia. Not because I support Columbia’s actions or the anti-Israel activists. But because this has implications far beyond for all in America. To silence views and speech.

There’s an oft-cited aphorism about Jews being the “Canary in the coalmine.” That’s not perhaps quite apt here. But perhaps for at least some; these actions being taken against Columbia and Khalil might be viewed as stalking horse. Apply them here (no matter how valid such actions might be). And if they’re permitted; it’s becomes easier to use in far broader and more ideological instances.

In the 1919-1920: Many hundreds of “Alien” American “radicals” including famously, Emma Goldman were deported from the United States for their views. See “The Palmer Raids.” In the early 1950s, Charlie Chaplain was famously denied reentry to the United States despite having lived in the United States for several decades because of his views.

Even as a non “Free Speech” absolutist; the proposed actions raise serious concerns and implications for us all. I’m not naive. I’m aware there are some deeply-”problematic” people in this country. Some are on temporary visas. Some on permanent visas (Green cards.) And of course many are US citizens - either naturalized or native born!

But the expression “Throwing out the baby with the bathwater” seems to be one that should be heeded.