When a new president takes office, new changes come into the world we live in.

Donald Trump took office Jan. 20, 2025, and it didn’t take long to make changes from Joe Biden’s tenure.

A controversy that has risen between Republicans and Democrats is whether people who are in this country legally but not citizens should be given the same constitutional rights as citizens.

Palestinian activist–Mahmoud Khalil–made national headlines after he was arrested by federal officials with the attempt for Trump’s team to deport him.

Khalil was arrested over his role in protests against the Israel-Hamas war at Columbia University last spring.

Although there have been deportations in the past, this case is the first of kind.

Trump and his administration are looking for foreign students and pro-Palestinian demonstrations across the country.

This goes hand-in-hand with the revival of the immigration policies and programs he carried out in his first term as president.

On day one of his second term, there were 10 orders related to immigration in all. Within each of those orders were dozens of policy changes.

One of those policies was the basis for Khalil’s arrest.

ICE and the Justice Department would have to file a case in immigration court.

Trump’s administration tried to move Khalil’s case to Louisiana–where he is under ICE detention–but it was denied by a judge.

Again, there are two sides to everything, dealing with politics.

There is a group that wants to see Khalil deported for his actions, but another protesting in his name.

At Columbia University, students have been seen chaining themselves to gates on campus to protest the detention by ICE.

What makes Khalil’s case unique is he’s a green card holder.

Red flags around this and First Amendment rights have arisen, as he would be deported on the grounds of terrorism.

A green card–Permanent Resident Card–allows for non-U.S. citizens to live and work permanently in the United States.

Green card holders who live and work in the U.S. hold some of the benefits as a U.S. citizen, but not all of them, nor are they considered U.S. citizens.

Our editorial board believes that the immigration policy is unclear, as well as the benefits for green card holders compared to a U.S. citizen’s. But we believe those who are here legally should be afforded the same rights and privileges as U.S. citizens.

It would be easier for the government to monitor and govern if it were clear what the policy was for deportation of illegal immigrants compared to green card holders.