Yes, his deportation is extraordinary and should give any American pause. It is not every day that the U.S. government takes such decisive action against a university student for their so-called “political speech.” But should Khalil’s advocacy for Hamas—along with his support for the hordes of zealous Palestinian “civilians” who gleefully and grotesquely committed the atrocities of October 7—not be regarded as even more extraordinary?

The real question is: Which should shock us more—Khalil’s likely removal, or the reality that a guest in our country, within one of our major American universities no less, was not only permitted—but actively aided in fomenting hatred for Jews and publicly supporting Hamas, a designated terrorist organization responsible for some of the most brutal atrocities in modern history?

Free speech is, of course, a central issue here. The First Amendment guarantees the right to express even the most offensive opinions. Yet, even in the freest societies, there are limits.

To refresh your memory:

“Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the Government for a redress of grievances.”

The government has long drawn a line between free speech and incitement. According to reports Mahmoud Khalil crossed that line—from ‘peaceable’ protest to incitement to the manifestation of actual violence.

The Limits of Free Speech

Khalil, an international student on a green card, allegedly engaged in activities that not only glorified Hamas but also actively disseminated its propaganda and facilitated campus demonstrations that escalated into outright intimidation of Jewish students.

This isn’t a simple case of a student voicing unpopular views. It’s about whether a person residing in this country should be permitted to openly advocate for a terrorist organization that has tortured, raped, and murdered civilians, including Americans, in cold blood. And as of this writing, Hamas is still holding 59 hostages in Gaza. This includes 24 individuals presumed to be alive—22 Israelis, one Thai national, and one Nepali national. Additionally, the bodies of 35 hostages who were confirmed dead remain in Hamas’s custody.

Imagine the Double Standard

Consider for a moment if a student had led massive rallies praising the Ku Klux Klan and calling for violence against Black students. Or if a campus group openly cheered attacks against LGBTQ+ people. Or imagine a university allowing a student to distribute materials praising the murder of Latinos and calling for the destruction of Mexico, El Salvador, or Colombia.

Would anyone hesitate to remove that student?…

It’s a cri de coeur, from a long way down. Read the rest here. I found it impressive. And, just possibly, you may, too.