Disturbing article in the Guardian, “Pro-Israel group says it has ‘deportation list’ and has sent ‘thousands’ of names to Trump officials: Betar US is among far-right groups supporting Trump effort to deport students involved in pro-Palestinian protests,” by Anna Betts. In it, Ms. Betts writes that the organization “Betar,” a right-wing pro-Israel group has submitted “thousands” of names of individuals who it feels are supporting the Palestinian cause. Among them is Mahmoud Khalil, the Columbia student who was arrested and accused of ““pro-terrorist, anti-Semitic, anti-American activity.” He now faces being deported.
This is distressing for any number of reasons, not the least of them being that it seems to indicate a surrender into private hands of America’s immigration policy. Suddenly, it is not the border patrol or ICE or any other government agency determining who setting and enforcing immigration policy. Rather, it is an informal group with a strong political agenda and uncertain membership that is deciding whether or not a specific individual represents a danger.
That’s not a good thing. It is the kind of arrangement that leads eventually to witch hunts. And lynch mobs.
Both of which are all too likely at the moment.
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