PNN – Referring to the arrest of a pro-Palestinian female student at Tufts University by US Homeland Security agents, the Axios website wrote: Analysts warn that continuing this trend will increase the risk of America’s leaning toward fascism under US President Donald Trump.
According to the report of Pakistan News Network, the American media outlet, the US government’s pressure to arrest and deport students who hold pro-Palestinian views has baffled and alarmed the civil libertarian community.
According to this segment of society, such actions violate America’s (alleged) traditions of freedom of speech and due process.
The report added: Rumisa Ozturk, a Turkish-American doctoral student at Tufts University, has been targeted by the US government after he wrote an anti-Israeli article in the university’s student newspaper, calling for respect for the “equal dignity and humanity of all people, including Palestinians.”
This comes amid the arrest of other legal US citizens, following rhetoric from Trump administration officials and threats by his administration to fine law firms assisting immigrants.
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His arrest reportedly came days after a pro-Israel group called “Mission Canary” reported Ozturk’s activities to federal authorities and accused him of anti-Israel activity.
A spokesperson for the US Department of Homeland Security claimed that Ozturk was “engaged in activities in support of Hamas,” but did not elaborate on what those activities were.
Axios added that the US State Department’s “Catch and Revoke” program focuses on students who protested against the Gaza war. The program focuses on the Cold War-era Immigration and Nationality Act of 1952 (deporting immigrants the government considers a security risk).
The report continues: This is part of the Trump administration’s effort to combat anti-Semitism on campuses, but critics say these actions are actually an attempt to stifle free speech and advance a Christian nationalist agenda.
It is worth noting that the study visas of more than 300 foreign students have been canceled in the three weeks since the “arrest and revoke” program was activated. The arrests and the lack of fair procedures for pursuing cases have some experts concerned about America’s trend toward fascism and authoritarianism under Trump.
According to this report, Anthony DiMaggio, author of the book “The Rise of Fascism in America: It Could Happen Here,” said: “There is a concern that if the rule of law is not allowed, people may move towards fascist ideology.”