Congressman Robert Garcia Statement on Politically Motivated Arrests Toward Peaceful University Protestors

Washington, D.C. – Today, Congressman Robert Garcia (CA-42) released the following statement after the arrest and detention of Tufts University student Rumeysa Ozturk and Columbia University student Mahmoud Khalil, as well as other similar incidents across the nation.

"Donald Trump and Secretary Noem are trying to destroy basic freedoms of speech and first amendment rights," said Congressman Garcia. "Using ICE agents to arrest students without evidence of any crime is unacceptable. These detentions without due process must be stopped. We must fight back to protect our civil liberties and ensure this administration isn't unlawfully silencing those peacefully exercising their rights."

"We should all be angered by the politically-motivated detentions and arrests of students like Rumeysa Ozturk – who was grabbed on the way to a Ramadan iftar dinner – and Mahmoud Khalil, without due process or evidence of any crimes. As an immigrant, I know the fear of deportation. Revoking legal status without due process is completely unacceptable. The administration must produce lawful justification for their actions or release both students immediately."

Congressman Garcia has always been a fierce defender of our rights and the freedom of speech, standing strong against any efforts to undermine the core values of our democracy. At the first DOGE Subcommittee hearing in February, Congressman Garcia called out Elon Musk for leading a power grab against our democracy. When Washington D.C.'s Acting U.S. Attorney, a Trump appointee, sent a threatening letter in a clear attempt to silence him, Congressman Garcia refused to back down. Congressman Garcia will continue to fight against the growing influence of those who seek to undermine our democracy and our freedoms.

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