City Council criticizes Trump for detaining activist

City Council members criticized the Trump administration on Wednesday for detaining Mahmoud Khalil, a Palestinian activist who played a key role in protests at Columbia University. The discussion took place in the Council’s Committee on Health and Human Relations, but no vote was held on a resolution related to Khalil’s detention. Alderman Ray Lopez opposed the resolution and accused his colleagues of being selective in their outrage. He pointed out that their sympathy came after the October 7, 2023, attacks by Hamas, which resulted in the deaths of 1,200 people. Lopez emphasized that supporting Palestinians should not equate to supporting terrorism. In contrast, Alderman Maria Hadden supported the resolution, calling it a “no-brainer.” She argued that the federal government's actions against Khalil are part of a broader pattern of unlawful behavior that threatens everyone’s rights. Committee Chair Rossana Rodriguez Sanchez responded to Lopez's departure after criticizing the committee's focus. She stated that the issues at hand involve due process and the rights of dissenters. She stressed that such arbitrary detentions should alarm everyone. Khalil, a legal resident of the U.S. and married to an American citizen, was detained by federal agents in New York on March 8. His green card was reportedly revoked by the Trump administration.