The Green Party of the United States has issued a forceful condemnation of the Trump administration’s arrest and threatened deportation of Mahmoud Khalil, a lawful permanent resident and outspoken pro-Palestine activist. The party is demanding Khalil’s immediate release from ICE custody and his return to New York City, calling the detention a dangerous escalation in the criminalization of dissent.
Khalil, an Algerian citizen and Green Card holder, was arrested on March 8 at his home and transferred to LaSalle Detention Center in Louisiana. He had recently participated in pro-Palestinian demonstrations at Columbia University and served as a visible spokesperson for the movement. No criminal charges have been filed against him, yet his Green Card was revoked and his presence in the United States declared “incompatible with U.S. foreign policy” under a Cold War-era immigration law.
“This is a horrifying obstruction of the lawful exercise of First Amendment rights, and possibly an illegal move to revoke the status of a lawful resident of the United States,” said Jennifer Sullivan, spokesperson for the Green Party National Women’s Caucus. “This action is a test for future use of the Act against a much broader segment of the population for protest of any kind.”
The Green Party’s statement calls attention to the Immigration and Nationality Act of 1952, which the administration is citing to justify deportation based on foreign policy priorities—a rarely used statute with deeply authoritarian implications.
“Greens demand that ICE release Khalil immediately,” said Cassandra Lems, co-chair of the Green Party of the U.S. “We further call on the Administration to cease mass deportation efforts. It is a cruel effort to escalate the Trump administration’s terrorism against immigrants.”
Joseph Naham, also a party co-chair, warned of the wider implications of Khalil’s arrest, particularly for the growing movement against Israeli apartheid. “Fascist policies don’t just brand anti-Zionist and anti-genocide movements as antisemitic—they weaponize this distortion to crush resistance itself,” he said. “Enacting repression against those who oppose Zionism and genocide is not just complicity—it is an act of antisemitism, co-opting Jewish identity to shield apartheid and silence dissent.”
The Green Party also condemned the administration’s reported interest in invoking the Alien Enemies Act of 1798, a law originally passed under John Adams during the build-up to war with France, as part of its crackdown on political dissent and immigrants.
In its platform, the Green Party affirms its commitment to social justice and due process for all people, regardless of immigration status. “When the government has the power to deny legal rights and due process to one vulnerable group, everyone’s rights are at risk,” the party wrote.
Khalil’s arrest comes amid a wave of student and community protests against the U.S. government’s ongoing support for Israel’s military campaign in Gaza. The Green Party has consistently called for a permanent ceasefire, an end to arms shipments to Israel, and the protection of civil liberties for those who speak out against war and apartheid.
As the 2026 election cycle begins to unfold, the Green Party is positioning itself as a staunch defender of immigrant rights, free speech, and the Palestinian struggle for liberation—drawing a sharp contrast with the bipartisan consensus on militarism and repression.
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