A university president makes a case against cowardice

> Mahmoud Khalil lied on hus visa application about being a member of UNRWA.

He was briefly an unpaid intern.

https://studyinthestates.dhs.gov/2015/11/uscis-explains-if-u...

> USCIS is frequently asked whether an unpaid intern needs to complete Form I-9. In general, an unpaid intern does not need to complete Form I-9 unless he or she will receive remuneration, which is something of value such as no-cost or reduced-cost meals, lodging or other benefits in exchange for his or her labor or services.

I can see how someone'd leave that off a green card application for that reason, which is more plausible than hiding an association with a UN agency while applying for a green card during the Biden years. (If anything, work for the UN and a close ally's embassy should increase trust here.)

Given https://www.uscis.gov/sites/default/files/document/forms/i-4... says things like "Have you EVER been a member of, involved in, or in any way associated with any organization, association, fund, foundation, party, club, society, or similar group in the United States or in any other location in the world?" there's a good chance every single green card applicant has forgotten to list something. Do I include my kindergarten? The music club I was in as a toddler? Joining a political party's subreddit? Donating $10 to a charity ten years ago?

Hell, I'm "associated with" Hacker News, but it wouldn't go on my I-485. Should that get me deported to an El Salvadorean slave camp?

I'm not arguing in favor of el salvadoran prisons, but he's not in an el salvadoran prison. He's being charged with being in violation of his Visa. And yes, I do expect you to report the time that you "Interned" at the UNRWA. This organization has always operated tightly with Hamas and the PA, and if I'm establishing your background, I need to know about it so that I can investigate it, period. I don't need to know about your affiliations with hackernews, because hackernews is not closely affiliated with designated terror organizations. Now that the UNRWA is properly designated as a terrorist organization itself, do you think it would be appropriate to lie about your affiliations with them on a visa application?

Mahmoud Khalil is in an American jail awaiting trial. A New Jersey court will rule on his status.

> I'm not arguing in favor of el salvadoran prisons, but he's not in an el salvadoran prison.

He might wind up there; a judge has halted the deportation process for now. The administration is demonstrably sending folks (some with no criminal record: https://www.the-independent.com/news/world/americas/us-polit...) there, including via "clerical error" they can't undo (https://apnews.com/video/white-house-says-maryland-resident-...). Oopsie daisy!

> He's being charged with being in violation of his Visa.

He has not been charged at all. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Detention_of_Mahmoud_Khalil

"Khalil has not been charged with a crime and is not alleged to have engaged in any activity legally prohibited to U.S. residents... Removal procedures were initiated under section 237(a)(4)(C)(i) of the Immigration and Nationality Act of 1952, which permits deportation of lawful residents if the Secretary of State believes their presence risks "potentially serious adverse foreign policy consequences"."

> I don't need to know about your affiliations with hackernews, because hackernews is not closely affiliated with designated terror organizations.

The form doesn't say that. It says anything, ever.

> Now that the UNRWA is properly designated as a terrorist organization itself, do you think it would be appropriate to lie about your affiliations with them on a visa application?

When did the US designate UNRWA as a terrorist organization?

I don't think they ever have, but they certainly hadn't back in 2023 when he applied.

(The US was UNRWA's single largest donor that year, in fact. https://www.unrwa.org/sites/default/files/top_20_donors_over...)

> Mahmoud Khalil is in an American jail awaiting trial.

Having not been charged with any crimes, he is in immigration detention awaiting a court hearing.

he was working for thw UNRWA during october of 2023. This needs to be mentioned on your visa application.

Again, as an unpaid intern. (And their visa application was in 2022. Two related, but separate things.)

The judicial process will now determine if that was a willful oversight on the permanent residency application, and if it would have had material impact on the application.

https://www.nbcnews.com/news/us-news/doj-says-mahmoud-khalil...

> However, the government will have to prove to the immigration judge that Khalil willfully failed to disclose that information, and whether that disclosure would have impacted his eligibility for permanent residency.

It may even be that the administration is lying. They do that.