Lawmakers demand release of activist Mahmoud Khalil

More than a dozen progressive lawmakers have called for the release of Palestinian activist Mahmoud Khalil, detained by ICE after leading anti-war protests at Columbia University. His arrest occurred without a judicial warrant, raising concerns about his legal status. Khalil's wife, a U.S. citizen, is eight months pregnant and was threatened with arrest during his detention. A judge has temporarily blocked his deportation while his attorney seeks to transfer him back to New York from a detention center in Louisiana. Protests have erupted at various universities, including Columbia, with students and faculty advocating for Khalil's release. Many participants, including Jewish students, argue that his detention threatens free speech and the right to protest.