Author: Ali Harb
Published on: 11/07/2025 | 00:00:00
AI Summary:
Activists have long suspected that the administration of US President Donald Trump is gathering information from the Canary Mission website to target students and professors. But on Wednesday, that suspicion was confirmed when a DHS official testified in a court case challenging Trump’s efforts to deport pro-Palestinian student protesters. Israel’s advocates portrayed the protest movement as anti-Semitic. Conservative leaders called to crush the demonstrations and penalise the participants. In March, Columbia University graduate student Mahmoud Khalil became the first prominent victim of Trump’s campaign. Free speech advocates decried the campaign as a blatant violation of constitutionally protected freedoms. But the Trump administration asserted that the issue is an immigration matter that falls under its mandate. Project Esther called for identifying students and professors critical of Israel. Palestinian rights advocates have condemned Canary Mission for publishing identifying information. Advocates say the tactic can have a detrimental impact on careers, mental health and safety. For his part, Ross said he has received hate mail because of Canary Mission. He worries the website can be especially harmful for marginalised groups. The State Department did not respond to Al Jazeera’s query on the government’s use of Canary Mission. Instead, a department spokesperson referred to a statement by Secretary of State Rubio from May. But the Trump administration may also be using more extreme sources than canary Mission to deport students.
Original: 1401 words
Summary: 226 words
Percent reduction: 83.87%