Democrats Visit Students Detained Amid Immigration Controversy

BOSTON – A group of Democratic lawmakers visited two students held in immigration detention in Louisiana, as the White House moves to deport them. The delegation, including Representatives Troy Carter and Ayanna Pressley, as well as Senator Edward Markey, met with Mahmoud Khalil from Columbia University and Rümeysa Öztürk from Tufts University on Tuesday.

The students were detained in March amid a government crackdown they argue is politically motivated due to their pro-Palestinian activism. Khalil, a legal green card holder, potentially faces deportation for participating in protests against the Gaza conflict. Öztürk’s student visa was revoked for co-authoring a piece criticizing her university’s policies regarding Israel.

“We stand firm with them, in support of free speech,” Carter stated after their visit. While he described the facilities as clean, he highlighted complaints from detainees about cold temperatures. Markey called the detentions a violation of constitutional rights, noting that neither student has been charged with a crime.

Öztürk has suffered multiple asthma attacks during her detention and has not received adequate medical care, according to Markey. Her claim is supported by various advocates who have criticized the conditions in detention facilities.

Both students are among the most prominent detainees during the Trump administration‘s renewed immigration policies, which, lawmakers claim, specifically target individuals associated with pro-Palestinian movements. Pressley recounted her meeting with detainees who expressed fears and gratitude for support, emphasizing the humane treatment they deserve.

The lawmakers are demanding information from Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem and ICE Director Todd Lyons regarding the students’ treatment and the reasons behind their relocation to Louisiana, which critics argue was a strategic move to a more conservative judicial area.

The ongoing situation has raised concerns among human rights advocates and highlighted tensions surrounding immigration policy in the U.S. As lawmakers continue to advocate for the students’ release, they emphasize the importance of free speech and humane treatment of all individuals.