A new poll has revealed a concerning shift in public opinion, with a significant number of Democratic voters opposing the deportation of Mahmoud Khalil, a known ally of Hamas. Despite Khalil's ties to a designated terrorist group, the survey found that a disturbing percentage of Democrats are reluctant to take action against him, raising eyebrows about the left’s stance on national security and its response to individuals with extremist affiliations.
The deportation effort led by the Trump administration to send Khalil back to his home country, Syria. has caused a nationwide divide between the two political parties. Khalil led massive anti-Israel demonstrations at Columbia University, calling for the “end of Western civilization.”
According to the Rasmussen poll, 51 percent of Democrats and 73 percent of liberals believe Khalil should be allowed to stay in the United States despite his radical pro-Hamas views.
Khalil, a non-U.S. citizen, has become a prominent figure in the pro-Hamas movement, leading demonstrations as the head of the radical group Columbia United Apartheid Divest (CUAD) following the terrorist attacks on Israel. Earlier this month, Khalil was taken into custody by Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) due to his activities. Previously, he faced suspension from Columbia University last spring for participating in the protests; however, the suspension was quickly reversed because of the lack of evidence. Despite his actions and affiliations with the designated terrorist organization, Democrats continue to sympathize with those tied to the attacks.
Rasmussen then asked a follow-up question about whether Khalil “was exercising his free speech rights, or that he was supporting the terrorist organization Hamas?”
While 40 percent of respondents said he supported Hamas, 43 percent said he was “exercising his free speech.” Seventy-six percent of liberals and 46 percent of moderates also believed he was using his free speech rights.
