The following was sent to my House rep. and both Senators:
March 11, 2025
Dear Representative Huizenga,
I’m writing to ask you to step up and defend our constitutional right to protest, and demand the immediate release of Mahmoud Khalil. Mahmoud is a lawful permanent resident who has been detained without charges in retaliation for exercising his First Amendment rights.
Every person has the right to free speech, as guaranteed by the constitution. The Trump administration has consistently moved to harass and quiet critics and the free press in its attempt to move us closer and closer to a fascist authoritarian state. Please move to stop him before it is too late. Our future depends on it.
Sincerely,
Rev. Kenneth Arthur
The following response from one of my Senators was received on July 7, 2025:
Dear Mr. Arthur,
Thank you for contacting my office to share your thoughts on international student visa revocations. As your new Senator as of January 2025, I sincerely appreciate hearing from you.
As you may know, since taking office, the Trump Administration has taken actions to target international students – who are in the U.S. legally – for exercising their constitutional right to freedom of speech. The Administration has worked to review student visa holders’ social media accounts and other forms of protected speech, leading to cancelled visas and green cards. Additionally, Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) previously terminated visa records for thousands of students whose visas were not revoked, and then reversed them in April 2025. As of June, an estimated 4,700 international students had their visas cancelled or revoked.
One example of these actions was the arrest of Mahmoud Khalil. Khalil, a lawful permanent resident of the United States and graduate student, was detained by ICE, reportedly due to his involvement in political protests at Columbia University related to the war in Gaza. Khalil has not been charged with any crimes. ICE is seeking to terminate his lawful permanent resident status, alleging that his presence in the country harms U.S. foreign policy. On May 28, 2025, a federal judge affirmed that the Administration’s efforts to deport Khalil are unconstitutional. This case, and other similar cases, have raised serious concerns about freedom of speech and due process. I am thankful a New Jersey court ruling released Khalil on June 20 after he spent over three months in detention.
The rights to freedom of speech and due process are fundamental. All people within the United States have the right to share their views and stances, regardless of where they fall on the political spectrum — including lawful permanent residents. These are constitutional rights, anchored by the First and Fourteenth Amendments, that have been reaffirmed time and time again by the Supreme Court.
I have serious concerns with the President and his senior officials talking about suspending the writ of Habeas Corpus, our most sacred right and one we fought a revolution to preserve. Let me be clear: Habeas Corpus is something we all have and can not be taken away by one man. President Trump is trying to act beyond his Executive power and his deliberate assault on American democratic principles will not stand. I will continue to call balls and strikes on the Administration’s illegal and unconstitutional actions and to protect our fundamental rights.
In the current environment, protecting our freedom of speech and right to due process have never been more important. And I’ve heard it loud and clear from thousands of Michiganders. That’s why I sent a letter with my colleague, Senator Gary Peters, to the Secretaries of State and Homeland Security calling on them to immediately stop threatening these constitutional rights, and to focus on law enforcement actions that actually keep us safe. I had the opportunity to raise this issue directly with the Secretary of Homeland Security on May 20. You can see that clip here: https://sen.gov/7YLL6.
In the meantime, I am working to make sure everyone has the tools and resources they need to operate amid this ongoing assault on our democratic rights. Since January, my casework staff has assisted more than 500 constituents with immigration and democracy issues, including student visa holders concerned about their First Amendment rights. We are here to help Michiganders in need of immigration support. If you need assistance, please reach out to my office at https://www.slotkin.senate.gov/services/casework.
Once again, sincere thanks for reaching out. I believe that engaging your elected officials is a critical component of our democracy and allows us to better represent you, so thank you for taking the time to get in touch.
Last thing: if you want to keep up with my work for Michigan in the U.S. Senate, you can visit my website at https://www.slotkin.senate.gov/services/newsletter/ and sign up for my newsletter. You can also find regular updates on social media by following me on Facebook, X, Threads, Bluesky, or Instagram. The most important part of my job is being responsive to Michiganders and ensuring their concerns are heard. Please do not hesitate to contact me for this or any other matter of concern to you.
Sincerely,
Elissa Slotkin
U.S. Senator for Michigan