“History doesn’t repeat itself, but it often rhymes.” ~ Mark Twain

Across the country, school administrators are warning international students that if they travel home for the summer, they risk not being allowed back in the U.S. It’s scary. Many of us are worried about not being able to step back on American soil after going home for the summer, despite being contributing members of our school’s international community, holding valid green cards, or being naturalized immigrants. As a 9th-grade student from China, I worry: Who will be next?

It’s Happened Before

Mark Twain once said, “History doesn’t repeat itself, but it often rhymes.” After Pearl Harbor, Japanese Americans were imprisoned for their heritage. Even though around two-thirds of the relocated Japanese Americans were American citizens, the government still decided to deprive them of their freedom. Around 120,000 people were placed into concentration camps for years throughout the war, just because other Americans were fearful that they might be loyal to the enemy.

Attack on Pearl Harbor, 1941

Image Credit: Alfred T. Palmer from Wikimedia Commons

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What Happened to Mahmoud Khalil

Now here’s the rhyme. Eighty-four years later, Mahmoud Khalil, a leader in pro-Palestinian protests at Columbia University, was taken on March 8th from his Columbia apartment building, where he was a graduate student. Secretary of State Marco Rubio claimed that “[his] presence or activities in the United States would have potentially serious adverse foreign policy consequences for the United States,” yet that allegation came only after he helped lead pro-Palestinian protests.

Khalil was then locked up in a Louisiana detention center without a single criminal charge for over 100 days. Though he is a lawful permanent resident without a criminal record, he did not receive basic constitutional protections. His case suggests that we might be wise to question the erosion of due process, equal protection under the law, and the basic rights immigrants and international students are promised.

On June 20, Khalil’s lawyers convinced the U.S. District Court Judge Michael Farbiarz in Newark that the Trump administration had targeted Khalil in response to his participation in campus demonstrations. If a person is detained for expressing an opinion that opposes the government, the freedom of speech promised by the First Amendment is truly jeopardized.

Why This Should Scare All of Us

Khalil’s case also sends the message that if you protest or speak out, you could be detained, even if you are following the law. However, we need diverse voices and opposing viewpoints to promote fairness—democracy demands it. Immigrants and international students are part of that essential democratic structure. According to a 2025 Macau University of Science and Technology research, “The potential benefits of generational diversity stem from the diverse perspectives, experiences, and knowledge that different generations bring to the table. This diversity can foster creativity, innovation, and problem-solving, as teams can draw upon a wider range of ideas and approaches.”

According to Tracreports.org, as of June 15, 2025, 56,397 people are in ICE detention. An alarming 71.7% (40,433 individuals) do not have a serious criminal record. If at all, they were convicted of minor offenses, such as traffic violations, per TracReports.

We must stand up for the immigrants and international students who, despite having legal status in America, live in fear of speaking out. A 2024 study conducted at the Mayo Clinic reports that “The erosion of DEI programs will result in fewer support systems for underrepresented students in STEMM, thereby worsening existing disparities in racial and gender parity. This will inevitably affect the quality of research and health equity in the future.”

Image Credit: Germar Derron from Pexels

The Fifth Amendment promises that any person enjoys the right to a fair and impartial legal process. During the spring protests at Columbia, Khalil was not accused of breaking any laws. Yet, he was held at the detention center for over three months, proof that the system is broken when it allows people to be imprisoned without charges or a clear path to justice.

During his detention, Khalil missed his daughter’s birth and also his graduation ceremony at Columbia University. This unjust detention was not an isolated case; it’s a warning. It reminds us that in today's America, the rights promised by our Constitution aren't guaranteed to everyone, especially not to those of us who are here legally but remain outsiders in the eyes of the law.

Khalil’s story resonates with millions of immigrants and international students who hesitate to speak in class and are anxious to board a plane home. When expressing our own opinion becomes a potential weapon that could be used against us and take away our freedom, we must ask: what freedom are we defending? If discussing your own opinion in class and pushing the boundaries of discussions becomes a problem, and if we want a democracy that can protect our rights, we must fight for justice, not back down to unlawful actions.

ICE should act with accountability, detaining only those who have been formally charged with a crime. Ultimately, I hope to see all my classmates back in class this fall.