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PULSE POINTS:
❓What Happened: A federal judge on Friday ruled that the Trump administration can proceed with the deportation of “pro-Hamas” demonstrator and former Columbia University graduate student Mahmoud Khalil.
👥 Who’s Involved: U.S. Federal Courts, the Trump administration, Mahmoud Khalil, anti-Israel student demonstrators, Secretary of State Marco Rubio, and the State Department.
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📍 Where & When: U.S. Federal Court on April 11, 2025.
💬 Key Quote: President Donald J. Trump branded Khalil a “Radical Foreign Pro-Hamas Student” last month, hailing his arrest as “the first of many to come” for foreign agitators.
⚠️ Impact: The ruling allows the Trump administration to move forward with the removal of Khalil and other foreign students who have espoused anti-Semitism and support for the Hamas terrorist group from the United States. Khalil has until April 23 to file applications for relief.
IN FULL:
A federal judge has ruled that the Trump administration’s effort to deport Mahmoud Khalil, a Palestinian Columbia University graduate and U.S. permanent resident now detained in a federal jail in Louisiana, can move forward. Deportation proceedings against Khalil were initiated last month after federal authorities determined he had helped organize pro-Hamas demonstrations that disrupted Columbia University activities and created an environment of fear for Jewish students on campus. Khalil will have until April 23 to file relief applications.
The United States Department of State, under Secretary of State Marco Rubio, initiated Khalil’s removal after determining his actions constituted an effort to threaten and undermine U.S. foreign policy interests. Khalil appealed the deportation, securing a temporary restraining order (TRO) barring his removal from U.S. District Court Judge Jesse M. Furman—a far-left judge whose family has deep ties to the Democratic Party.
President Donald J. Trump branded Khalil a “Radical Foreign Pro-Hamas Student” last month, hailing his arrest as “the first of many to come” for foreign agitators. Subsequently, the Trump administration is believed to have revoked potentially thousands of student visas—primarily involving foreign students who participated in and organized pro-Hamas demonstrations.
Following Khalil’s detention, several students facing deportation opted instead to self-deport, including Ranjani Srinivasan, an Indian migrant “who had her student visa revoked for advocating for violence and terrorism.” Another Columbia University student, Leqaa Kordia, was arrested last month by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) for overstaying her expired F-1 student visa. Kordia is a Palestinian, originally from the West Bank.
PULSE POINTS:
❓What Happened: The state of Michigan has decided not to comply with a directive from the Department of Education demanding schools eliminate diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) initiatives.
👥 Who’s Involved: President Donald J. Trump, Michigan Superintendent Michael Rice, Acting Assistant Secretary for Civil Rights Craig Trainor.
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📍 Where & When: Michigan, United States.
💬 Key Quote: Michigan State Superintendent Michael Rice insisted, “Pre-K-12 programs that promote diversity representing all children, regardless of race, and inclusion of all children, regardless of race, do not inherently harm particular groups of children and are not de facto violations of Title VI.”
⚠️ Impact: This position underscores Michigan’s commitment to DEI initiatives, while other states, like Indiana, have chosen to comply with federal directives. The national discourse on the legality and value of DEI initiatives in education continues.
IN FULL:
Michigan is rejecting a federally imposed directive demanding schools cut diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) programs. The move comes in response to a recent memo from the Department of Education. The Trump administration’s directive urged schools nationwide to align with its interpretation of federal civil rights law, which limits the use of racial considerations in education settings.
Michigan State Superintendent Michael Rice asserts that the state adheres to all federal civil rights mandates. He emphasized the importance of DEI efforts, proclaiming them both lawful and vital. Rice contends that “Pre-K-12 programs that promote diversity representing all children, regardless of race, and inclusion of all children, regardless of race, do not inherently harm particular groups of children and are not de facto violations of Title VI.”
The February memo from the Department of Education mandates that educational institutions cease using racial preferences in decisions regarding admissions and scholarships and outlines potential consequences for noncompliance, including investigations or loss of federal funding. However, a number of state education leaders have joined Michigan in resisting the Trump administration directive, including in Colorado, New York, Pennsylvania, and Illinois. Each state claims it already meets federal civil rights guidelines.
Acting Assistant Secretary for Civil Rights Craig Trainor argues that DEI initiatives lead to discrimination, favoring one group over another. “For decades, schools have been operating on the pretext that selecting students for ‘diversity’ or similar euphemisms is not selecting them based on race. No longer. Students should be assessed according to merit, accomplishment, and character—not prejudged by the color of their skin,” Trainor stated in February. He warned: “The Office for Civil Rights will enforce that commitment.”
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