Matt Berg: How do you describe what has happened to you on a personal level, as someone being targeted by the U.S. government?
Mahmoud Khalil: It's a stain on the U.S. Constitution. I was targeted for literally speaking up for human rights, for the end of killing. My targeting is part of a wider assault on dissent in this country. They wanted to make an example out of me so that others would fear speaking out and fear dissenting from what this administration wants.
At the same time, the support I’ve received has been very encouraging. People can see through the lies of this administration. They can see through the hate that this administration has been spreading. We all know, ultimately, this administration thrives on division, thrives on polarization, and that's what they're trying to do.
MB: The State Department tacitly acknowledged that you haven’t broken any laws, only that your political beliefs may harm U.S. foreign policy. What’s your reaction to that accusation?
MK: I mean, U.S. relations with Israel couldn't get any better. The U.S. is funding Israel’s weapons with billions of dollars. So, it’s absolutely absurd. They just wanted to silence me. That was their main objective — using these obscure laws to find a loophole where the secretary of state can unilaterally, without any investigation, any court, any due process, deport non-citizens just because they don’t like their speech.
This should scare everyone, because they want my case to be a blueprint to go after everyone they disagree with. They usually try it with the weak in the country, so they can then push the limit and go after citizens. We're seeing that right now, whether it's naturalized citizens, whether it’s birthright, everything. They think that there's no limit.
MB: You're suing the Trump administration, seeking $20 million and an apology. What do you really want?
MK: Accountability and acknowledgement of the wrongdoing, the overreach the government has done in my case. They've called me names. They put me in prison for over 100 days, separating me from my family, from the birth of my son. I had to be on the phone with my wife while she was delivering. This shouldn't go unchecked.
MB: What is your message to protesters hoping to influence this administration?
MK: The exhaustion is real. The fear is real. However, the price of remaining silent and not doing anything is much higher. The fact that you have the president of the United States and his cabinet targeting students, targeting the Palestine liberation in this country, means that we are winning. We're actually making change in this country, and that's why they're going an extra mile to suppress us.
We shouldn’t allow that, because we need to maintain the pressure on this country to achieve justice, liberation and freedom for every Palestinian.
MB: If you could talk to Trump right now, what would your message be?
MK: My message would be to the American people, that Trump is trying to bring the country into fascism, authoritarianism. He’s trying to dismantle the institutions of this country. I have faith that people are awakened now to these practices, and they will stand up against them.
