A DHS official defended Khalil’s detention in an interview on Thursday but did not provide additional details for his arrest.

The circumstances of the case have split the country in predictable ways and led to protests in support of Khalil, including one at Trump Tower that resulted in nearly a hundred a

Appeals to Khalil’s free speech rights are meritless. A green card is not synonymous with citizenship, though many seem to believe otherwise. Indeed, the federal government has the power to revoke a green card at any time, consistent with its statutory authority and assuming due process.

One hopes he will be free to express his opinions unfettered in his homeland of Syria or Algeria, where he is a citizen.

Free speech expert Greg Lukianoff weighs in on the arrest of green card holder Mahmoud Khalil and why his potential deportation may lead to unfavorable U.S. foreign policy consequences.