Delegation of Congressional Officials Pay Visit to Mahmoud Khalil and Rumeysa Ozturk in Louisiana Detention Facilities
Hitting the Capitol Hill for Detainees: Mahmoud Khalil and Rümeysa Öztürk
In an unprecedented move, a group of congressional members journeyed to Louisiana on April 22, aiming to set the two individuals, Mahmoud Khalil and Rümeysa Öztürk, free from their ICE detention.
This visit marks the first time these lawmakers have met with the detainees since their arrests over a month ago.
Khalil, a Columbia University alumnus, and Öztürk, a PhD student at Tufts University, are still trapped in ICE custody following their arrests by federal agents near their homes.
Leading the delegation was Rep. Troy Carter of Louisiana, accompanied by Reps. Bennie Thompson of Mississippi, Ayanna Pressley, and Jim McGovern of Massachusetts, as well as Sen. Ed Markey. Their first stop was in Jena to meet Khalil, followed by Basile to see Öztürk.
Though the facilities were found to be clean, Rep. Carter noted a discomforting chill, with detainees reporting difficulty sleeping due to cold temperatures during the night. Regarding the overall condition, Carter described the situation as acceptable during their presence.
Upon leaving the facilities, lawmakers reported further complaints from the detainees about insufficient medical care, food, and religious accommodations. Rep. McGovern labelled Khalil and Öztürk as "political prisoners."
At a press conference after the visits, McGovern expressed concerns about an emerging era of McCarthyism, stating that unless the American people stand up against it, the administration would succeed in its suppressive tactics.
Markey accused the Trump administration of intending to "make an example" out of Khalil and Öztürk to quell free speech. He also claimed that ICE transferred the pair to Louisiana for political reasons.
Markey further pointed out the administration's belief that they had the right to apprehend people across the nation and hold them in facilities like those in Louisiana. According to Markey, they chose this location to bring their case before the most conservative Circuit Court of Appeals in the United States.
Before the visits, Pressley issued a statement to CNN, calling Öztürk her constituent, an accomplished scholar, and a valuable member of their Massachusetts community. Like Öztürk, Khalil has been held due to alleged links to pro-Palestinian activities without any formal charges.
The Trump administration has accused Khalil of having ties to Hamas, following his high-profile participation in protests at Columbia regarding the Israel-Hamas war on campus last year. Similarly, Öztürk was branded a terrorist sympathizer due to a critical op-ed she co-wrote in the university newspaper during the same conflict.
Neither Khalil nor Öztürk have been charged with criminal offenses. Both have filed numerous motions contesting their detentions in federal court.
Khalil, a permanent resident with a green card who is married to a U.S. citizen, was detained in March. His legal team reported that ICE denied him a special accommodation to attend the birth of his first child on April 21.
Öztürk, a Turkish national, has suffered multiple asthma attacks while in custody and has not had access to her medication, according to court documents and her legal team. A federal judge in Vermont ordered ICE to transfer her back there by May 1, while her case continues to unfold.
Tuesday's visit follows a series of recent trips by Washington officials who have made visits to people in custody due to Trump's immigration crackdown.
Sen. Peter Welch of Vermont met with Mohsen Madawi, a pro-Palestinian student organizer from Columbia University who was detained during his final citizenship interview in Vermont last week.
Sen. Chris Van Hollen of Maryland traveled to El Salvador last week to meet with Kilmar Abrego Garcia. This week, four House Democrats also visited El Salvador, hoping for the release of Abrego Garcia, a Maryland resident.
- Rep. McGovern, during a press conference, labelled Mahmoud Khalil and Rümeysa Öztürk as "political prisoners."
- Sen. Ed Markey accused the Trump administration of intending to "make an example" out of Khalil and Öztürk to quell free speech.
- Markey further stated that the administration believes they have the right to apprehend people across the nation and hold them in facilities like those in Louisiana.
- General news outlets have reported on these visits, placing them under the categories of 'politics', 'policy-and-legislation', 'war-and-conflicts', and 'crime-and-justice'.
- Many have voiced concerns about the year's rising temperatures and their potential impacts on detention facilities like those in Louisiana, but Rep. Carter noted a discomforting chill during his visit.
