Trump Administration Deports Palestinian Peace Activists Despite Valid Visas for Interfaith Mission
Two Palestinian peace activists were deported from San Francisco International Airport on Friday after U.S. immigration authorities revoked their valid visas upon arrival, despite traveling for a synagogue-sponsored interfaith humanitarian mission that was designed to promote dialogue between Jewish, Christian, and Muslim communities. Eid Hathaleen and Awdah Hathaleen, cousins from the occupied West Bank village of Umm al-Khair, were detained Wednesday and forcibly returned to Qatar after customs officials did not explain their actions.
The deportation has sparked widespread condemnation from congressional leaders, including senior Democrat Nancy Pelosi. It represents the latest example of the Trump administration's escalating crackdown on individuals with pro-Palestinian viewpoints. The incident underscores growing concerns about constitutional rights violations and the targeting of peaceful activists under immigration policies that critics argue conflate Palestinian identity with security threats.
Peaceful Mission Ends in Detention and Deportation
The cousins arrived at San Francisco International Airport on Wednesday afternoon from Doha, Qatar, carrying valid tourist visas for what was intended to be a multi-city speaking tour across California, Washington D.C., and Boston. Their trip was sponsored by Kehilla Community Synagogue in Piedmont, California, where they were scheduled to speak at churches, synagogues, and other establishments as part of an interfaith humanitarian mission.
Eid Hathaleen, an artist and photographer, had visited the United States multiple times previously using the same visa. His cousin Awdah Hathaleen, an English teacher and contributor to Israeli magazine +972, had been issued a new visa in May and was making his first trip to America. Both men are parents and residents of Masafer Yatta, an area in the occupied West Bank that has faced increasing pressure from Israeli settlers.
Upon landing at approximately 1 p.m. On Wednesday, the men were immediately detained by Customs and Border Protection agents. Their visas were summarily revoked, and they were informed they would be deported within 24 hours. Phil Weintraub, lead organizer of the Palestinian solidarity committee at Kehilla Community Synagogue, told Middle East Eye: "We are heartbroken that our friends were denied entry for their humanitarian mission. They came to thank us and raise funds for their village's summer camp. The Trump regime's cancellation of their visas was an act of cruelty and nothing else".
Congressional Leaders Demand Answers
The deportation has prompted intense criticism from Bay Area congressional representatives, with a delegation including Nancy Pelosi issuing a statement demanding justification for the immigration authorities' actions. San Francisco Supervisor Bilal Mahmood, who rushed to the airport Wednesday night after learning of the detention, called the situation "a fundamental violation of the First Amendment".
"If people are coming here with valid visas and immigration papers, and even if they are being turned away … what does this mean for the rest of the residents who live in San Francisco and the country?" Mahmood told Mission Local. "This is another example of an escalating constitutional crisis in our country".
Vermont's congressional delegation, including Independent Senator Bernie Sanders, Democratic Senator Peter Welch, and Representative Becca Balint, has similarly condemned recent deportations of Palestinian activists, calling such actions "immoral, inhumane, and illegal" in other cases involving Columbia University students.
Broader Pattern of Targeting Pro-Palestinian Voices
The deportation of the Hathaleen cousins represents part of a broader pattern under the Trump administration of targeting individuals with pro-Palestinian viewpoints. According to Immigration and Customs Enforcement data, the U.S. has "removed" 157,948 people from the country since October, including 72,179 during the first 100 days of Trump's administration.
Secretary of State Marco Rubio has announced the revocation of thousands of visas, primarily targeting students. Many of these deportations and visa revocations have been executed based on individuals' views or participation in protests related to the Israel-Palestine conflict, with the administration routinely equating pro-Palestinian activism with antisemitism.
Recent high-profile cases include the arrest of Columbia University student Mohsen Mahdawi, a green card holder for 10 years, who was detained at an immigration office in Vermont, where he had arrived to complete his naturalization test. Another Columbia student, Mahmoud Khalil, was also detained by ICE in March as part of what critics describe as a coordinated campaign to silence Palestinian voices.
"The Trump administration detained them, and now deported them, solely because they are Palestinian" - Erin Axelman, co-director of documentary Israelism
Jewish Community Support and Interfaith Solidarity
The detention has generated significant support from Jewish communities and interfaith organizations, who view the deportation as contrary to both American values and Jewish ethical principles. Erin Axelman, co-director of the documentary Israelism and a Jewish filmmaker, told Middle East Eye that the cousins were "profoundly important Palestinian peace activists who travelled to the US legally at the invitation of progressive Jewish communities, for a speaking tour about peace and justice in Palestine".
"Detaining Eid and Awhad does nothing to advance Jewish safety, saying so is a horrible joke, and is offensive to Jewish Americans who see similarities between how Palestinians are being treated, and how Jews were treated in Europe for so many centuries," Axelman stated.
Ben Linder, co-chair of the Silicon Valley chapter of J Street and organizer of the activists' first scheduled speaking engagement, described them as "true non-violent peace activists" whom he had known for ten years. "They came here on an interfaith peace-promoting mission. Having the US government revoke already granted, already screened visas, to crack down on peace activism is a new chapter," Linder said.
The progressive Kehilla Community Synagogue, which sponsored the visit, had developed a three-year relationship with the activists as part of what organizer Phillip Weintraub described as an interfaith "reparative alliance" aimed at connecting American Jews, Israelis, and Palestinians to promote non-violence.
Public Demonstrations and Community Response
The detention sparked immediate protests at San Francisco International Airport, with approximately 100 demonstrators gathering Thursday morning at the international terminal. Protesters chanted "Let them go" and held signs reading "Jews say stop the genocide of Palestinians," according to Mission Local.
The Bay Area branch of the Council on American-Islamic Relations organized a demonstration at San Francisco City Hall with other faith leaders demanding the men's release. The Arab Resource & Organizing Center issued urgent calls via text and social media for supporters to come to SFO arrivals and press for the activists' release.
"Everything about their visit was straightforward, above-board," immigration attorney Peter Weintraub, a member of the synagogue helping coordinate the visit, told Mission Local. "Cultivating relationships between Christians and the Jewish and Palestinian communities, which seems to be a rather laudable, wonderful thing".
Legal and Constitutional Concerns
Legal experts and civil rights advocates have raised serious concerns about the constitutional implications of the deportations. The denial of entry to individuals with valid visas based on their national origin or political views raises significant due process and First Amendment questions.
According to a national survey by the Foundation for Individual Rights and Expression, only 26% of Americans support deporting foreigners legally in the United States on student visas for expressing pro-Palestinian views, while 52% oppose such actions. The poll found that 54% of Americans oppose deporting green card holders for pro-Palestinian views.
The Trump administration's policies represent a stark reversal from the previous Biden administration, which in February 2024 announced that Palestinians living in the U.S. would be shielded from deportation under "deferred enforced departure" authority due to dangerous conditions in Gaza. That protection was intended to last 18 months and covered Palestinians who would otherwise have been required to leave the United States.
Current Status and Travel Complications
The Hathaleen cousins landed back in Qatar on Friday but remain stranded there due to regional complications stemming from Israel's recent military strikes against Iran. According to Middle East Eye, there are currently no available flights to Jordan due to the ongoing conflict, leaving the activists in an uncertain situation.
Supervisor Mahmood reported that during his late-night visit to the airport, customs officials refused to provide information about the conditions of detention or whether the men had been given food. "We don't know what conditions they're in or if they've been given any food," Mahmood said.
The activists were scheduled to speak at multiple Bay Area venues, including the Kehilla Community Synagogue, Buena Vista, and Los Altos United Methodist Churches, with events planned in Alameda, Santa Clara, Oakland, and other cities. Their mission included fundraising for children's programming in the West Bank and sharing their experiences of living under occupation.
Administrative Justification and Policy Context
U.S. Customs and Border Protection has not provided any public explanation for the visa revocations, despite multiple requests from media outlets and congressional representatives. The agency did not respond to questions from various news organizations seeking clarification about the legal basis for the deportations.
The lack of transparency reflects broader concerns about the Trump administration's immigration enforcement policies, which critics argue lack due process protections and clear enforcement standards. The administration has characterized its actions as necessary to combat antisemitism on college campuses and in public discourse, though civil rights groups dispute this characterization.
The international far-right pro-Israel group Betar has been actively campaigning for the deportation of Palestinian rights defenders, according to reports from The Intercept. This organized pressure represents a systematic effort to silence Palestinian voices through immigration enforcement rather than traditional legal channels.
Impact on Interfaith Relations and Civil Society
The deportation has significant implications for interfaith dialogue and civil society organizations working to promote understanding between different religious and ethnic communities. The cancellation of the speaking tour eliminates opportunities for American audiences to hear directly from Palestinian perspectives in controlled, educational settings.
Faith leaders across the Bay Area have expressed concern that the government's actions will have a chilling effect on future interfaith programming and international cultural exchange. The targeting of individuals sponsored by religious institutions raises questions about the protection of religious freedom and the autonomy of faith communities to choose their own speakers and programming.
The incident also highlights the complex position of American Jewish communities, many of whom have supported Palestinian rights and dialogue initiatives. The involvement of a progressive synagogue in sponsoring the Palestinian activists demonstrates the diversity of Jewish opinion on Israel-Palestine issues, contrary to assumptions about monolithic Jewish support for Israeli policies.
Policy Implications and Future Challenges
The deportation of the Palestinian activists signals a significant escalation in the Trump administration's approach to immigration enforcement as it relates to the Israel-Palestine conflict. Civil rights organizations warn that the precedent set by these actions could be extended to other forms of political speech and activism, potentially undermining fundamental constitutional protections.
Legal challenges to the administration's policies are likely to emerge as advocacy groups work to protect the rights of foreign visitors and residents who express views critical of Israeli policies. The tension between immigration enforcement and First Amendment protections will likely require resolution through the federal court system.
The incident also raises questions about the future of international academic and cultural exchange programs, particularly those involving regions experiencing conflict. Universities, religious institutions, and cultural organizations may need to reassess their ability to host international speakers and maintain global dialogue initiatives.
The broader implications extend to U.S. foreign policy and diplomatic relationships in the Middle East. The targeting of Palestinian peace activists could complicate American efforts to mediate conflicts and maintain credibility as an honest broker in regional disputes.
Testing Democratic Values and Constitutional Rights
The deportation of Eid and Awdah Hathaleen represents more than an isolated immigration enforcement action; it reflects fundamental questions about American values, constitutional rights, and the boundaries of political discourse in a democratic society. The incident demonstrates how immigration policy has become a tool for suppressing particular viewpoints rather than addressing legitimate security concerns.
The strong support for the Palestinian activists from Jewish communities, Christian churches, and civil rights organizations illustrates the broad coalition concerned about the erosion of civil liberties under current policies. The lack of transparency from federal authorities and the absence of clear legal justification for the deportations underscore the need for accountability and due process protections.
As the Trump administration continues its immigration crackdown, the treatment of the Hathaleen cousins serves as a test case for the resilience of American democratic institutions and the protection of minority voices. The response from congressional leaders, faith communities, and civil society organizations will help determine whether such actions represent a temporary aberration or a more permanent shift in American policy toward political dissent and international engagement.
The ultimate resolution of these tensions will shape not only immigration policy but also the broader question of whether the United States can maintain its commitment to free speech, religious freedom, and international dialogue while navigating complex geopolitical challenges in the Middle East and beyond.