letterswithoutborders

  In an act of resistance and direct defiance to Columbia University administration, approximately two dozen students and alumni chained themselves to the gates of the university protesting the detention of former student Mahmoud Khalil and fellow activist Mohsen Mahdawi. The protest, which began early Monday morning at Columbia’s main gates at 116th Street and Amsterdam Avenue, was organized by the Columbia Palestine Solidarity Coalition, Columbia Chapter of Jewish Voice for Peace and Columbia University Alumni for Palestine. In a joint Instagram statement, the groups said, “Today, a group of Columbia University students and alumni chained themselves to the campus gates, demanding the release of Mahmoud Khalil and Mohsen Mahdawi.” David Maloof, a Columbia alum and activist said,  “This is part of Columbia’s tradition. We protested the Vietnam War before my time, but I protested the South Africa apartheid. And now these students are protesting the genocide in Gaza. This is th...

 A federal law requiring immigrants to register with the U.S. government is now being heavily enforced for the first time in over 80 years, following an executive order from President Trump. Originally enacted in 1940 during World War II, the Alien Registration Act ( ARA ), sometimes known as the Smith Act, has remained in effect but has not been consistently implemented. The Alien Registration Requirement ( ARR ), part of the ARA, is the requirement placed on individuals to register in compliance with the law. Early in 2025 the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) announced that the ARA would be heavily enforced beginning on April 11, in accordance with Trump's Executive Order 14159 : Protecting the American People Against Invasion. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Response The decision has sparked widespread criticism and legal challenges from immigration advocacy groups, who argue that it could lead to the mass removal of thousands of undocumented immigrants ...

The Trump administration’s plan to impose sweeping tariffs on pharmaceutical imports is drawing sharp criticism from health policy experts and drug industry leaders, who warn it could raise costs, worsen drug shortages, and strain the U.S. healthcare system. President Trump said Tuesday the White House is preparing “a major tariff on pharmaceuticals,” citing dependence on foreign sources for essential medications. “The United States can no longer produce enough antibiotics to treat our sick,” he said. This move is part of a broader push to reduce reliance on Chinese imports and bolster domestic manufacturing. On Wednesday, the administration raised tariffs on Chinese goods to 145% and paused certain “reciprocal” tariffs for 90 days excluding pharmaceuticals. Short-Term Shield, Long-Term Risk Analysts say consumers won’t feel the effects immediately. Drugmakers are likely to absorb the added costs, especially for patented drugs, which are already priced at mark...

In a polarized political climate where civil liberties are increasingly tested, Americans face a sobering question: how far will we go in sacrificing personal freedoms in the name of security? Recent immigration enforcement actions, particularly under the Trump administration , have reignited public concern about the role of Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) and the consequences of executive orders that critics argue infringe upon basic rights. At the heart of the issue lies a deeper psychological question: why do people follow orders, even when they conflict with their moral values? The Milgram Experiment and the Psychology of Obedience In 1961, Yale psychologist Stanley Milgram conducted a groundbreaking experiment to explore obedience to authority. Hoping to understand what led ordinary Germans to comply with Nazi directives during World War II, Milgram set out to test whether Americans would behave differently. Participants were instructed to administer i...

  As the war in Ukraine enters its third year, the emotional and psychological cost of sustained conflict is becoming increasingly visible. Faced with a surge in cases of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), depression, anxiety and traumatic brain injury (TBI), Ukrainian clinicians are adopting bold new approaches to psychological care — ones that rely on substances long considered taboo or illegal in much of the world. At the forefront of this shift is psychedelic-assisted therapy, particularly the use of ketamine and the more controversial ibogaine, to treat mental trauma among both active-duty soldiers and veterans. In many cases, these therapies are delivering results faster and more effectively than traditional methods. It has become a critical factor in a country where many soldiers are expected to return to combat. Ketamine Therapy Offers Rapid Relief Dr. Vladislav Matrenitsky, a Kyiv-based psychedelic therapist, is among the leading voices in Ukraine's keta...

In a bold move, Hungary has announced its intention to withdraw from the International Criminal Court (ICC) as Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu arrived in the country last week. Netanyahu has an active ICC warrant out for his arrest for alleged war crimes and crimes against humanity. What is the ICC? The International Criminal Court (ICC) is an independent, permanent court that investigates and prosecutes individuals accused of the most serious crimes of international concern, such as genocide, crimes against humanity, war crimes, and the crime of aggression . The court describes its mission as: "In a global fight to end impunity, and through international criminal justice, the Court aims to hold those responsible accountable for their crimes and to help prevent these crimes from happening again. Governed by an international treaty called the Rome Statute, the ICC is the world’s first permanent international criminal court." Established in 2002, t...

For the first time in five years, trade ministers from China, Japan, and South Korea met in Seoul last week to discuss enhancing regional trade. The meeting comes in response to U.S. President Donald Trump’s tariffs , including a 25% import duty on cars and auto parts—measures that particularly impact Asian automakers, the top suppliers of vehicles to the U.S. Regional Alliance Discussions focused on mitigating the economic impact of U.S. tariffs . Japan and South Korea plan to import semiconductor raw materials from China, while Beijing will secure chip products from both countries, according to a social media account linked to Chinese state broadcaster CCTV. This cooperation aims to stabilize supply chains across Asia. The ministers also pledged to accelerate talks on a free trade agreement to reduce reliance on the U.S. market and promote regional economic self-sufficiency. Experts suggest that this collaboration signals a shift in economic strategy, as the three nation...

  The U.S. Department of Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) has grown into a force that rivals past repressive secret police organizations. Historically, authoritarian regimes have relied on political police to suppress dissent and maintain power. Today, ICE appears to be engaging in similar tactics, targeting activists and international students based on their political views. Surveillance and Retaliation: The Canary Mission Connection Reports indicate that ICE may be using the controversial Canary Mission to compile lists of individuals for potential deportation or visa revocation. Established in 2014, Canary Mission was designed to combat the growing Boycott, Divest, and Sanctions (BDS) movement, which pressures Israel to comply with international law. While Canary Mission claims to fight antisemitism, critics argue it functions as a blacklist, silencing pro-Palestine activists by labeling them as extremists. State Department’s Mass Visa Revocations ...