The United States has long prided itself on being a beacon of free speech.
But recent events suggest that this fundamental right might be under attack—especially for those daring to challenge the status quo.
President Donald Trump has repeatedly proclaimed himself a champion of free speech, but his administration’s actions tell a different story.
Students and academics who have spoken out on controversial issues, particularly regarding Palestine, are facing deportation, detention, and legal threats.
The Hypocrisy of ‘Protecting’ Free Speech
In February 2025, Senator J.D. Vance delivered a speech at the Munich Security Conference condemning European nations for censorship and for restricting free speech.
He warned against policies that silence dissent, arguing that freedom of expression should be protected at all costs.
Fast forward to March 2025, and President Trump himself stood before Congress, boasting about his role in “restoring free speech” in America.
“I’ve stopped all government censorship and brought back free speech,” he declared.
Yet, reports tell a very different story. According to Time magazine, Trump has consistently punished speech he dislikes while rewarding voices that align with his administration’s views.
This selective approach—favoring some perspectives while silencing others—is precisely what the First Amendment is meant to prevent.
Mahmoud Khalil: A Student Activist Targeted
On March 8, 2025, U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents stormed the New York apartment of Mahmoud Khalil, a Palestinian student activist, dragging him off to a detention center in Louisiana.
His crime? Engaging in peaceful pro-Palestinian activism.
Khalil, a Syrian-born Palestinian refugee, became a well-known advocate for Palestinian rights during the Gaza protests at Columbia University.
He played a crucial role in negotiations between student protesters and university officials, advocating for social justice and equality.
Despite holding a legal U.S. green card, Khalil has not been charged with any crime.
However, his attorneys suspect that the White House is directly involved in his arrest.
The government invoked an obscure immigration law that allows for deportation if an individual is deemed a “threat” to U.S. foreign policy.
A judge has temporarily blocked his deportation, but the battle is far from over.
The Case of Yunseo Chung: Another Student Facing Deportation
Yunseo Chung, a 21-year-old Columbia University student, finds herself in a similar predicament.
Unlike Khalil, she wasn’t a prominent activist but was arrested during a peaceful protest on March 5.
Despite living in the U.S. since childhood and holding legal permanent residency, Chung is now facing deportation.
According to government officials, her removal is necessary because she allegedly participated in a “pro-Hamas protest.”
Her lawyers, however, argue that she is being targeted simply for her political beliefs.
A judge has temporarily halted her deportation, but her future remains uncertain as she fights for her right to stay in the country.
Dr. Rasha Alawieh: Deported Despite Legal Status
Not all cases have resulted in temporary relief. Dr. Rasha Alawieh, a kidney specialist from Rhode Island, was forcibly deported to Lebanon on March 14, despite holding a valid visa and passport.
Her alleged offense? Attending the funeral of former Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah while visiting family in Lebanon.
Alawieh stated that her presence at the funeral was for religious, not political reasons.
However, U.S. officials found “sympathetic” material on her phone and used this as justification to remove her from the country.
A federal court had issued an order blocking her deportation, yet authorities proceeded anyway, providing no explanation to her family or legal representatives.
More Arrests, More Deportations
The crackdown isn’t limited to just these individuals. Footage from March 26 shows ICE agents forcibly detaining Turkish doctoral student Rumeysa Ozturk in Massachusetts.
She, too, was targeted for her pro-Palestinian activism.
Other students and scholars—Badar Khan Suri from Georgetown, Momodou Taal from Cornell, Alireza Doroudi from the University of Alabama, and many more—are all facing similar threats.
And it doesn’t stop there. Secretary of State Marco Rubio recently announced that at least 300 students have had their visas revoked due to their participation in protests against U.S. support for Israel.
The Real Reason: Criticism of Zionism
What do all these cases have in common? The students and academics facing deportation are all outspoken critics of Israel’s policies in Gaza.
Judge Andrew Napolitano, in a discussion with political scientist John Mearsheimer, described the wave of deportations as “an attack on freedom of speech like we haven’t seen in this country in generations.”
Mearsheimer agreed, arguing that “the single greatest threat to free speech in the United States today is Israel and its supporters.”
A Defining Moment for American Democracy
This moment is a test for the United States. Are we truly a nation that values free speech, or do we only protect it when it aligns with the government’s agenda? The growing number of deportations and arrests suggest that dissent—especially when it challenges U.S. foreign policy—comes with serious consequences.
Voltaire once said, “I may not agree with what you say, but I will defend to the death your right to say it.”
It’s time to ask ourselves: Is America still willing to uphold that principle?