For Immediate Release
March 12, 2025
Contact: Phylisa Wisdom phylisa@nyja.org
NEW YORK — We are deeply concerned about the dangerous rise of antisemitism emanating from across the political spectrum. And we are committed to ensuring that Jewish students, like all students, can learn in a campus environment free from hate, harassment and discrimination. We firmly believe that anti-Jewish rhetoric or calls for violence should have no place in any movement for peace, justice, and self-determination.
We also believe deeply in our country’s commitment to freedom of expression and due process, as core components of our cherished American democracy. Jews have been at the forefront of the fight for these principles throughout history. As liberal and progressive Zionists, we are committed to the right to protest the governments of the United States and Israel, alike.
The detention of Mahmoud Khalil, a green card holder, is unprecedented and deeply chilling. We do not yet know what Mr. Khalil is being charged with, and that alone is highly problematic. Indeed, due process is an essential part of enforcing immigration law. While the grounds for this action are unknown, the opaque statements from DHS and manner in which it is being executed sends an unmistakable signal about the Trump Administration’s brazen disrespect for due process norms and intent to cruelly instill fear across the immigrant population. If laws have been broken, we urge good faith implementation of US law using robust due process protections.
Additionally, we have every reason to be concerned that the Trump Administration would abuse the established law on removal, to include speech alone. To remove a green card holder based solely on these grounds would firmly endanger the First Amendment.
In the long tradition of Jewish advocates who have defended those with whom we disagree, our values call on us to defend the freedom of speech and right to due process even of those whose expression we may abhor. No one is made freer or safer by a federal government that tramples on even the lesser due process rights available to green card holders.
The Trump administration has embraced the very extremism that is a direct threat to Jewish safety. This kind of sweeping authoritarian action, violating the rights of others, in the name of combating antisemitism is the height of hypocrisy and will not make us safer. Jewish people will be safest in a democracy that adheres to due process as part of the rule of law. This kind of authoritarian action is incompatible with our vision for immigrants’ rights and a pluralistic democracy.
New York Jewish Agenda (NYJA) organizes, advocates, and convenes the New York Jewish majority to influence state and local policies, politics, and the communal discourse.