Jewish activists protest deportation at Trump Tower

A group of anti-war Jewish activists occupied Trump Tower in New York during Purim to protest the deportation of Mahmoud Khalil, a legal U.S. resident and Columbia graduate. Khalil was detained by ICE without a warrant, raising concerns about free speech. Khalil's arrest has sparked debate within the Jewish community about the implications for dissent against U.S. support for Israel. Critics argue that the Trump administration is using Khalil's case to suppress opposition and that some university officials may have aided in his detention. The Heritage Foundation's new initiative, "Project Esther," aims to target progressive activists and has been criticized for promoting antisemitic tropes. Activists emphasize the need to defend civil liberties and resist authoritarianism, drawing parallels to the Purim story of Esther.