Trump administration targets protests using McCarthy-era law

Mahmoud Khalil, a recent Columbia graduate, was arrested by ICE agents, but he has not been charged with a crime. His arrest was ordered by Secretary of State Marco Rubio, who cited national security concerns related to Khalil's protests and alleged distribution of pro-Hamas materials. The Trump administration is using a McCarthy-era law to target Khalil, marking a shift in immigration policy towards dissidents. The law allows the Secretary of State to declare noncitizens deportable based on perceived threats to U.S. foreign policy, but only an immigration judge can finalize deportation. Khalil is currently in ICE detention in Louisiana and has filed a habeas corpus petition for his release. His case is notable for its use of vague foreign policy threats as grounds for deportation, raising concerns about the implications for other international students involved in protests.