New Orleans, Louisiana – Congressional lawmakers strongly criticized the detention of students Mahmoud Khalil and Rümeysa Öztürk by US immigration authorities for their pro-Palestinian activism. The lawmakers described the situation as a “national disgrace” during their visit to the detention facilities in Louisiana where both students are being held. Louisiana Congressman Troy Carter, leading the delegation, expressed unwavering support for the students’ right to free speech during a press briefing following the visits. He highlighted the students’ fear and concern, emphasizing their desire to return home.
Öztürk, a PhD student at Tufts University, and Khalil, a Columbia graduate, have been in custody for over a month without any criminal charges being brought against them, the delegation members noted. This led to allegations of their constitutional rights being violated. The delegation, which included representatives Carter, Thompson, Pressley, McGovern, Senator Markey, and ACLU of Louisiana’s executive director Odoms, conducted oversight visits to the South Louisiana Ice processing center in Basile and the Central Louisiana Ice processing center in Jena, where Öztürk and Khalil are held respectively.
The lawmakers interacted with Öztürk, Khalil, and others in ICE custody to actively monitor what they described as a “rogue and lawless” administration, Representative Pressley stated. Their detention occurs amidst a significant crackdown on immigrants by the Trump administration, targeting individuals for constitutionally protected free speech deemed unfavorable to US foreign policy by the administration.
Senator Markey categorized the situation as a national disgrace and a pivotal moment in American history where he believed the constitution was under threat from the Trump administration’s actions. Representative McGovern went as far as to label those detained as political prisoners, denouncing the detention centers as moving the country toward an authoritarian state.
The detention of Öztürk followed her criticism of Tufts University’s response to Israel’s attacks on Palestinians in a co-authored piece for the student newspaper. She has reported being held in unsanitary and unsafe conditions in Louisiana, struggling to access medical care. Khalil, who missed the birth of his first child while in custody, was identified as eligible for deportation by a judge earlier this month.
Lawmakers have condemned the treatment of the students, emphasizing the need to push back against what they view as a violation of due process and free speech for all individuals residing in the country, regardless of their status. The delegation highlighted the detainees’ fear, lack of proper healthcare, and harsh conditions within the facilities, urging for resistance and a renewed commitment to American values.