Tovia Smith
Appearances
NPR News Now
NPR News: 10-08-2024 3AM EDT
Pro-Palestinian protesters waved flags of their own, along with signs accusing Israel of genocide. Two City University of New York campuses saw what the university called violent vandalism and hateful rhetoric, including smashed windows and divest now spray-painted on a building. School officials say students responsible may be subject to disciplinary actions. Tovia Smith, NPR News.
NPR News Now
NPR News: 10-08-2024 3AM EDT
Pro-Palestinian students led a walkout of classes at several colleges, including Columbia University. Meantime, pro-Israel students there staged an art installation and prayer service. But elsewhere in New York City, it was less peaceful. Like when a pro-Palestinian protester grabbed an Israeli flag from a man who ended up with a bloody nose.
Up First from NPR
Alien Enemies Act, Legal US Immigrants Denied Entry, Deadly Storm System
Yeah, this is about Rasha Aloe, a kidney transplant doctor at a Brown University-affiliated medical group. She was here on an H-1B visa. That's the one meant for highly specialized workers. And she went to visit family in Lebanon. And when she returned, she was detained for 36 hours at Boston's Logan Airport and had her phone taken from her, according to her cousin.
Up First from NPR
Alien Enemies Act, Legal US Immigrants Denied Entry, Deadly Storm System
Her cousin was the one who got the federal court order barring officials from sending her back. And apparently her lawyers even made a frantic call to the airport control tower trying to stop the plane she was on. But they say officials, quote, willfully disobeyed the judge's order and sent her back anyway. We expect to learn more shortly from government lawyers in federal court this morning.
Up First from NPR
Alien Enemies Act, Legal US Immigrants Denied Entry, Deadly Storm System
But so far, we've got just a preview from a spokesperson who said that officials use rigorous screening to help keep threats out of the country, is how they put it.
Up First from NPR
Alien Enemies Act, Legal US Immigrants Denied Entry, Deadly Storm System
Yeah, in this case, Fabian Schmidt was detained for days when he tried to return to Logan Airport from a trip to Europe, according to his family. And officials suggest it's because he faced misdemeanor drug and DUI charges about a decade ago, and he was a no-show. for a court hearing on his case. His family says that's because he never got the notice.
Up First from NPR
Alien Enemies Act, Legal US Immigrants Denied Entry, Deadly Storm System
But in this case, also, relatives say that Schmidt was mistreated in custody, violently interrogated, was how his mother put it when she spoke to GBH reporter Sarah Bedecourt.
Up First from NPR
Alien Enemies Act, Legal US Immigrants Denied Entry, Deadly Storm System
Officials say the claims are, quote, blatantly false without, however, saying specifically which claims. And they add, quote, when an individual is found with drug-related charges and tries to reenter the country, officers will take proper action, they said.
Up First from NPR
Alien Enemies Act, Legal US Immigrants Denied Entry, Deadly Storm System
Yeah, this is being seen as Trump making good on one of his central campaign promises or threats, however you see it. And this was reiterated, by the way, by Border Czar Tom Homan just a few weeks ago when he specifically called out Boston for vowing to not help ICE enforcement officers.
Up First from NPR
Alien Enemies Act, Legal US Immigrants Denied Entry, Deadly Storm System
Meantime, those who oppose the Trump administration's hardline stance are also fired up. There's a protest planned for this evening to support the doctor who was sent back to Lebanon. As, of course, there have been other protests, including many around the nation this weekend in support of the Columbia student Mahmoud Khalil. He was taken into custody by officials who say.
Up First from NPR
Alien Enemies Act, Legal US Immigrants Denied Entry, Deadly Storm System
His campus protest activities basically amount to a national security threat because they, quote, align with Hamas, which is a U.S.-designated terrorist group.
Up First from NPR
Alien Enemies Act, Legal US Immigrants Denied Entry, Deadly Storm System
Thank you.