PBS News Hour White House correspondent Laura Barron-Lopez tried to claim on Thursday that if the Trump Administration is able to successfully deport pro-Hamas Columbia University student protest leader Mahmoud Khalil, it can deport any legal immigrant simply for disagreeing with them.
During a larger conversation about Trump’s immigration views, host Amna Nawaz asked, “I know one of the recent examples that's fallen under this is the case of Mahmoud Khalil, right? He was a legal permanent resident here. How is that case fitting into the approach that the Trump administration has on immigration?”
Barron-Lopez replied, “Today, we saw a protest breakout inside of Trump Tower in New York City in response to Khalil's ongoing detention at an ICE facility in Louisiana. And, as you noted, Khalil is a green card holder. He's a legal permanent resident. And so far he has not been charged with any kind of crime. And in the court filings this week, the administration only cited this immigration provision that's considered obscure by some that says that the Secretary of State can deport someone if they pose—quote—'potentially serious adverse foreign policy consequences" for the United States.'”
Turning to libertarianism, Barron-Lopez continued, “Now, David Bier of Cato Institute added that the immigration law is expansive. It gives a lot of authority to the executive branch. And he warned that noncitizens should be concerned that this administration could target them if they disagree with this administration's political agenda and that ultimately this administration could carry out potential deportation cases against legal immigrants.”
Hamas is a terrorist organization, designated as such by Bill Clinton in 1997 and recognized as one by several other countries as well. Khalil was involved in demonstrations that occupied school property that distributed Hamas propaganda while curtailing other students’ ability to study in peace. He was previously warned he was close to violating the university’s policies against harassment. Sometimes you don’t need to do a Pastor Martin Niemoller impression.
Here is a transcript for the March 13 show:
PBS News Hour
3/13/2025
7:34 PM ET
AMNA NAWAZ: I know one of the recent examples that's fallen under this is the case of Mahmoud Khalil, right? He was a legal permanent resident here. How is that case fitting into the approach that the Trump administration has on immigration?
LAURA BARRON-LOPEZ: Today, we saw a protest breakout inside of Trump Tower in New York City in response to Khalil's ongoing detention at an ICE facility in Louisiana. And, as you noted, Khalil is a green card holder. He's a legal permanent resident. And so far he has not been charged with any kind of crime. And in the court filings this week, the administration only cited this immigration provision that's considered obscure by some that says that the Secretary of State can deport someone if they pose—quote—"potentially serious adverse foreign policy consequences" for the United States.
Now, David Bier of Cato Institute added that the immigration law is expansive. It gives a lot of authority to the executive branch. And he warned that noncitizens should be concerned that this administration could target them if they disagree with this administration's political agenda and that ultimately this administration could carry out potential deportation cases against legal immigrants.
