The ADL reversed its support for Trump's student deportations. You should too

[struggle4progress]

Rob Eshman
April 3, 2025

Jonathan Greenblatt, the leader of the Anti-Defamation League, has walked back his organization’s previous support for President Donald Trump’s Trump campaign to detain and deport pro-Palestinian activists — thank God.

“No one should minimize the hateful, violent acts committed against Jewish students,” he wrote in an April 3 essay in eJewishPhilanthropy. “But if we sacrifice our constitutional freedoms in the pursuit of security, we undermine the very foundation of the diverse, pluralistic society we seek to defend.”

Now that the largest and most influential Jewish civil rights organization has reconsidered its unjustifiable initial support for the detentions, it’s time for others who may also have been seduced into believing such draconian measures are “good for the Jews” to speak out against them ...

Greenblatt said his awakening came after the detention of Tufts graduate student Rumeysa Ozturk, whom masked ICE agents swooped down on and disappeared as she left her home in Somerville, Mass. last week. Her crime? The 30-year-old Turkish national co-authored an op-ed in Tufts’ student newspaper calling for the university to divest from Israel ...

https://forward.com/opinion/710017/adl-trump-student-deportations-jonathan-greenblatt/

[Ms. Toad]

1. Good.

Now they also need to speak out about the draconian punishments to colleges being carried out in their name.

[patphil]

2. I wonder how long it will take for Trump to attack Jonathan Greenblatt.

In just that short piece, Greenblatt talks about Diversity in society, and then says he awakened (woke up) after a Turkish woman was grabbed of the street by masked men.
If he's not careful, he'll find himself in the same situation Rumeysa Ozturk is in.

[riversedge]

55. Trump aids are off over Easter, so one around to tell him.

[edhopper]

3. They never should have supported it

in the first place.
I have no respect or support for the pro-Hamas activists. They offend me, and they have every right to do so.

[MLWR]

5. I couldn't agree more.

I don't support Hamas even a little bit, but I do support whole-heartedly the First Amendment and the right of expression. And I believe that should have been the guidance for the ADL in the first place.

[Beastly Boy]

20. When did ADL ever not support whole-heartedly the First Amendment and the right of expression?

Too many posts in this thread make presumptions that are not in evidence. So does the author of the opinion article cited by the OP.

There was not a day in the long history of ADL when the organization did not support or were not guided by these principles.

[Eko]

31. Here.

Link to tweet

[Beastly Boy]

33. See Post #32.

[Eko]

37. Ha,

"I see an expression of support for due process of law. And appreciation of efforts to counter campus antisemitism."
Why? is antisemitism illegal? Did he break a law? Was any of that true? People knew within 2 days and broadcast it everywhere that was not true at all. Its been like 40 days since the ADL issued that statement and they are just now figuring it out? In their post they even mention "Obviously, any deportation action or revocation of a Green Card or visa must be undertaken in alignment with required due process protections." which shows they were well aware of the fact that it had to follow due process. Something that was reported shortly after that had not happened. But they left that statement for like 40 days stand. So there are at least 30 days with proof where they did not stand for the right of freedom of expression. Proof.
Eko.

[Beastly Boy]

43. There isn't a single word in that tweet that addresses freedom of expression, one way or another.

Or a single word referring to Khalil personally.

It therefore makes absolutely no sense to reduce the ADL statement to what you think I think they think about Khalil. You just have nothing to grasp at on the subject of Khalil.

The subject of the ADL post was due process of law and antisemitism on campus. Not Khalil, for gawd's sake! And yes, I see an expression of support for due process of law and appreciation of efforts to counter campus antisemitism in their comment. Anything wrong with that?

And guess what, the reference to due process came immediately after Khalil's detention, not 40 days later, which shows their stance towards due process rather clearly, your speculations notwithstanding.

[Eko]

47. That was their statement in response to dump taking Khalil, personally.

As an ADL member admits. "As a longtime supporter of the Anti-Defamation League and as a board member of ADL Midwest, I am opposed to the national ADL position and messaging about the imprisonment of Columbia University graduate student Mahmoud Khalil. His arrest, detention and imprisonment by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement is unconstitutional, as he is a legal, permanent resident of the U.S. I write today with my Jewish and American values to say, “Not in my name." ”As for freedom of expression "or conceal their identities in order to harass and intimidate Jewish individuals and institutions with impunity." Wearing a mask is not illegal except in certain circumstance and a campus is not one of them, harassing someone can be but it is usually in a workplace environment, not a public setting. Students protesting and yelling at each other is not harassing someone that is considered illegal.Its important to note that none of this was proven in a court of law. Ah ya the reference to due process was immediate, it was also know within 2 days that due process was not followed and it sill took them almost 40 days to admit that. I do find it amazing that you continue to post things without having researched them before coming to your conclusions.
Eko.

[Beastly Boy]

50. It's a letter to the editor, for gawd's sake!

And I can't make out where the quote ends and your rant begins.

Or does it even matter anymore?

[Eko]

54. I guess the use of quotations makes it hard for you?

As well as the link that shows their exact quotes. My bad, I will try to make it more clear for you next time. Next time Ill color code it for you.
Eko.

[Beastly Boy]

56. It does. When the quotes appear to be placed randomly, in a single block of text.

It is not unusual to see you quote yourself and misquote others, to the point it doesn't make much sense.

So I would appreciate color coding. Different colors for accurate quotes, partial quotes, quotes out of context, made up quotes and quotes of yourself. You may even consider saving a special color for accurate quotes in context. Just in case.

[Eko]

57. I have to say its not my problem if you cant follow quotations with a link to the comments with the exact quotations.

Posting without the quotations would be a journalistic malpractice but we all know how you feel about following that practice. If I have quoted myself it is in reference to previous things I have said in conversation with you. If you would like to put up and show where I have misquoted others I would be happy to discuss those, although I am usually careful to not do so as at least being an amateur journalist is an important thing to me, something that you seem to hold disdain for.

[Eko]

58. I have to say that the fact that you are defending them for being wrong when there is definitive evidence for them being

wrong for an extended time is amusing. A couple of days sure, but over a month? Are they that inept? And if so they should not be any org that is considered to protect civil rights in any way. Inept and ineffective would be the best thing you could say about them if not more.

[Eko]

38. The fact is that the ADL supported dumps extrajudical removal

for over a month even after it became well known that it was extrajudicial and said nothing till now. Did it take you a month to figure it out? Or was it quicker than that?

[Beastly Boy]

45. Oh please, enough already!

No, they did not support extrajudicial anything! Not a word of supporting extrajudicial anything. Not now, not a month ago, not ever.

Nothing, zilch, zero, nada. Enough.

Thst's it, I can't argue with what's on your mind and nowhere else. It's absolutely pointless.

[Eko]

49. Sure, they just kept their mouths shut for over a month

about dump having done so with their knowing he did so after having given their props to the dump admin for having done exactly that. That doesn't sound like the fighters for free speech at all does it?
But nothing. Nada, Zilch. You are right about that, nothing, Nada, Zilch from the ADL for over 30 days knowing that dump had extrajudicially removed a resident of the US.
Such fighters for free speech. I hope I never have to rely on them to come to my defense. Its obvious to anyone that they are more focused on and more support getting rid of antisemitism than free speech, for you to argue otherwise denies actual history.

[Beastly Boy]

51. Ok, just keep posting the same thing over again and expect different results.

You still got nothing. And I am still looking for something more productive to do.

I am off to watch my grass grow. Enjoy.

[Eko]

53. How you can defend anyone or any org that said for over a month

"Yay dump extrajudicially sent a lawful resident of the US to a gulag" Is beyond me. But I guess that I just have different standards.

[Beastly Boy]

64. Here's the case of you quoting yourself.

And then you ask me how I can defend your quote.

How can I defend it? I can't. And I am not defending it. Not at all. It has no reflection in facts. It is completely made up.

It is yours, for you to defend.

[Beastly Boy]

21. Never supported what?

What exactly did ADL support that they shouldn't have?

[edhopper]

22. Article says

They supported the detention of Palestinian protesters.

[Beastly Boy]

25. Article is an opinion piece, as stated.

And this opinion is not supported by facts: its author shows no evidence to back it up.

[edhopper]

61. I see

they applauded the Trump Administration for taking action (they should have known better) but did not call for detention and deportation.

[tulipsandroses]

30. This was ADL's response to Mahmoud Khalil's arrest

The Anti-Defamation League, an antisemitism watchdog that has criticized Columbia’s response to pro-Palestinian activism, praised the arrest while calling for immigration law to be followed.

“We appreciate the Trump Administration’s broad, bold set of efforts to counter campus antisemitism — and this action further illustrates that resolve by holding alleged perpetrators responsible for their actions,” the group’s statement said. “Obviously, any deportation action or revocation of a Green Card or visa must be undertaken in alignment with required due process protections. We also hope that this action serves as a deterrent to others who might consider breaking the law on college campuses or anywhere.”

The statement immediately elicited criticism from progressive Jews who said the ADL was abandoning its values.

“BRB, checking the history books to find out whether ‘tyrant starts redefining peoples’ citizenship status’ usually ends well for the Jews,” tweeted Leah Goldberg, a co-founder of Indivisible, in an allusion to Hitler’s decision to strip citizenship from Jewish Germans in the 1930s.

https://forward.com/opinion/710017/adl-trump-student-deportations-jonathan-greenblatt/

[Beastly Boy]

32. I see an expression of support for due process of law.

And appreciation of efforts to counter campus antisemitism. Not a word of support for extrajudicial student deportations.

Anything wrong with that?

[tulipsandroses]

35. I find it very wrong and very disturbing that they supported the deportation of a permanent resident

I really don't care that he says he wants due process, advocating for the deportation of a permanent resident expressing free speech is wrong.

[Beastly Boy]

36. While you should definitely care what ADL says about due process,

that is not the issue here. The issue is, I have yet to see any evidence of ADL advocating for deportation, for any reason, prior to due process taking place.

So what you find very wrong and very disturbing is not something that is reflected in fact. That's the point.

[cadoman]

34. not saying what they should or shouldn't support

But Strafgesetzbuch § 86a would be an example of a necessary curbing of the extreme ends of speech that they seem to be supportive of. They certainly don't condemn it as overreach, at least, and a lot of their resources are foundational to its implementation and upkeep.

[yardwork]

62. I didn't know they had supported it. But details matter.

People can and should be deported for breaking laws. Lock the facilities staff in a campus building overnight with you, while you trash the building? That broke numerous laws and anyone proven to be involved should face criminal charges and risk deportation. I have no problem with that.

Wrote an op-ed in a student newspaper? That's a constitutionally protected right - not just for citizens, for everybody in the U.S.

I didn't see the ADL's earlier position. I agree with this statement they've made.

[OrlandoDem2]

4. Maybe people are waking up to the fact that Trump is using antisemitism to advance his agenda.

Trump doesn’t give a shit about Jewish students. They shouldn’t fear being on campus but they are now scapegoating others for their political support of innocent Palestinians in the name of fighting antisemitism.

[yorkster]

12. Bingo. And being anti-Netanyahu and pro-

a two-state solution is not antisemitic or anti-Israeli, even if it is anti current Israeli policy as well as Hamas.

[RockCreek]

13. This!

[B.See]

46. Exactly, Orlando. Trump, Prince of Chaos,

discord, and division tries to play people for fools and against one another, for his own benefit.

As if a person who once called neo-nazis "very fine people" and who surrounds himself with and embraces the endorsement of fascists like Musk, Miller and other Hitler apologists could ever REALLY give a flying --- about anti-Semitism.

[IbogaProject]

6. Finally

Many of the Tiny Tyrants supporters would love to expel jews they don't like. Probably got the grudge about the substantial support given during the civil rights movement from their parents.

[maxrandb]

7. I give them no quarter for their 11TH hour conversion

What changed?

Is it the shaved heads in a foreign Concentration Camp?

Is it the snatching of children off the streets as they walk to school?

Is Is armed thugs boarding trains and demanding "your papers"?

Is it using tattoos to "identify" scum that need "extermination"?

Are they concerned that he will move on to Jewish students and residents when he is done with "other" minorities?

This organization spent 2024 finding "antisemitism" in EVERY pushback against Netanyahu's indiscriminate bombing and vengeance.

I saw Mr. Greenblatt all over the media in 2024. His appearances could have been classified as in-kind contributions to Donnie Dipshit's campaign.

Put a picture of him next to Stephen Miller, and you will see more similarities than a shared hairline.

Sorry if that appears "defamatory", but the ADL is just as responsible for electing this fascist, as the most hardened, racist, fascist, KKK loving MAGAt.

Hope his "papers" are in order.

Did the ADL finally figure out that you can't be "just a little fascist"?

In for a penny...in for a pound.

[mountain grammy]

16. Exactly!

[Beastly Boy]

18. I wonder what made you come to your conclusions. Anything factual?

Perhaps you can cite Mr. Greenblatts statements all over the media. What would the "in-kind" that prompted the statements you might find (or not find)? How does Greenblatt compare to Miller (facts please)? What are the similarities you are talking about? In what ways does ADL is just as responsible for electing this fascist, as the most hardened, racist, fascist, KKK loving MAGAt?

Because, you know, with nothing to back up your numerous indignations, it all DOES seem defamatory. And, as you may already be aware, one can't be just a little defamatory.

[maxrandb]

60. Here is just ONE example

https://newrepublic.com/article/187695/anti-defamation-league-running-cover-trump

So how, with all that storied history behind it, did ADL respond to Trump’s 2024 Nazi rally? “Political rallies should be about politics and policy, not offensive jokes,” the organization wrote, in a bizarrely anodyne message that did not even name the presidential candidate for whom the rally was held.

This response was so pathetic it actually inspired criticism from ADL’s former leader, Abe Foxman—who is, to put it mildly, not a leftist. Foxman condemned Trump’s MSG rally as dangerous, writing that “the gas chambers in Auschwitz did not begin with bricks, they began with words, ugly, hateful words against Jews and other minorities.” And he went on to extend his criticism to “the American Jewish Committee, ADL, Conference of Presidents, the federations, all these institutions” for refusing to call out Trump by name for his dangerous rhetoric and actions.

Though this would be shameful enough, ADL’s culpability in this moment goes even deeper, for it is not merely staying silent on the threat Trump poses—the organization’s current leader, Jonathan Greenblatt, is actively carrying water for Trump by echoing his lieutenants’ efforts to shut down comparisons between the MAGA movement and the Nazis.

For example, Greenblatt recently called out Mehdi Hasan for saying that if people on the far right don’t want to be called Nazis, they should stop acting like them. Hasan made this reference during the now-viral CNN panel discussion in which far-right commentator Ryan Girdusky told Hasan he hoped his “beeper doesn’t go off,” implying—with an insinuation of violence—that Hasan was a terrorist for supporting Palestinians.

Though Greenblatt rightfully condemned Girdusky’s comment, he went on to immediately both-sides the exchange, saying, “It was also unacceptable for [Hasan] to make a Nazi analogy. Such comparisons are inaccurate, offensive and dishonor the memory of the six million Jews slaughtered by the Third Reich and the millions of others who also were murdered by the Nazi regime. Argue about politics and policy all day long; leave Holocaust comparisons out of it.”

Greenblatt’s statement is eerily similar to one made by Trump’s mass deportation czar, Stephen Miller. During Trump’s rally on Sunday, Miller said, “America is for Americans and Americans only,” a line that precisely parallels a quote Hitler made in 1934 that “Germany is for Germans and Germans only.” When this was pointed out, Miller responded by saying the comparison “trivializ[ed] the Holocaust” and was “a grave insult to my Jewish brothers and sisters who were murdered by Nazis.”

Greenblatt and Miller are making the same basic argument here

[Beastly Boy]

65. One example. An opinion piece.

Ok, if that's all I have to go by, let's take a look at this one example:

It cites a total of three statements, in the course of a total of two dats: two by Greenblatt on behalf of ADL and one by Abraham Foxman, Greenblatt's predecessor, on his own behalf, the three being the documented extent of ADL-adjacent statements "all over the media".

None of the three cited instances come remotely close to being associated with "as in-kind contributions to Donnie Dipshit's campaign." All three quite literally express opposition to Trump's disregard for due process of law and violations of human rights, albeit not in the language you wish to see. All of them being consistent with the latest statement for which you give them no quarter, making this statement anything remotely resembling any kind of "their 11TH hour conversion". The "change" that so enraged you is in wording, not in the position or purpose.

And if you were to pay any attention to what ADL is all about, the organization quite literally defines its mission as addressing concerns of Jewish students, among other Jews, of bigotry against them. For about 100 years now. Go figure that they are still concerned about it.

And this is the extent your factual evidence for your rant? This is the basis which informs you comparisons of ADL to fascists and KKK?

Whether you realize it or not, this kind of incendiary rhetoric forms the foundation for antisemitism.

[Hassin Bin Sober]

24. Fucking Kapos

[enid602]

59. Due process

Has Mr Greenblatt admitted that Israel routinely ‘disappears’ Palestinians without any due process?

[Gaugamela]

8. LOL, the ADL is getting cold feet. "Wait a minute, first they came for the socialists . . ."

[Beastly Boy]

19. ADL has a long history of having "cold feet"

Even the most cursory look at their history would show you that this has been their stance all along.

[ToxMarz]

9. I doubt it was a change of heart

as much as a staying on the good side of public opinion.

[lonely bird]

10. MAGAts love themselves some Israel

They just hate Jews.

To borrow the title of Dara Horn’s book: People Love Dead Jews.

[mdbl]

11. He hasn't changed his view on deporting people

He's just protesting the lack of due process and transparency.

[Exp]

14. The ADL got THAT right, now send Netanyahu to the I.C.C. for trial on his war crime. nt

[alarimer]

15. They've tarnished themselves too much

As has anyone who has supported Trump, even tepidly, in this matter.

[Eko]

17. Maybe they will rethink Musk doing a nazi salute is not a awkward jesture as well.

"It seems that @elonmusk
made an awkward gesture in a moment of enthusiasm, not a Nazi salute, but again, we appreciate that people are on edge."
Im not holding my breath though.

[Beastly Boy]

23. "They" rethought it just days later, a long time ago.

ADL condemns Musk's Nazi "jokes" after salute controversy

The Anti-Defamation League (ADL) condemned Elon Musk for making a series of Nazi-related jokes on X, calling it "inappropriate and offensive to make light" of the "singularly evil" Holocaust.

Why it matters: Just days earlier, the ADL had defended Musk over an awkward hand gesture he made during an inauguration event that drew comparisons to a Nazi salute — saying "all sides should give one another a bit of grace."

https://www.axios.com/2025/01/23/elon-musk-nazi-joke-adl

[Eko]

27. Seriously man the title of the article you posted does not say what you said at all.

As well as the article.
ADL condemns Musk's Nazi "jokes" after salute controversy
They condemned his jokes, not the salute. So not what you are saying at all.

[Beastly Boy]

28. Are you appealing to me to be serious? Me?

They literally condemned Musk for his nazi jokes, but they didn't literally condemn him for his nazi salute... Obviously ADL is all in favor of his nazi salute because... the title of the article.

I am sorry, I am not wasting any more time on this childish nonsense.

[Eko]

29. It appears they are against nazi jokes and not nazi gestures.

[Celerity]

39. so they would brook no truck with a communist party, but be just fine with the Communist Party

[Eko]

40. Or they would be against jokes about communism being fine

But not against communist hand symbols that evoke dread and historical deaths.

[Celerity]

41. exactly, that was my point

[Eko]

42. My bad then.

Keep on keeponing.
Eko

[iemanja]

44. Yeah, that was a tough one

Condemning Nazis is so difficult it took a few days to think over.

[Beastly Boy]

48. Guess what, I agree with you.

A shocker, isn't it?

Hell yeah, he took way too long to make up his mind on the Nazi being a Nazi, Worse, he went public with his indecision. And he got a lot of slack from Jews like myself for it, deservedly so.

This does not, by any means, signify his support for the Nazi in question, or negates his condemnation of the Nazi days later, nor does it make sense to pretend he has yet to rethink what he already rethought long ago.

[WhiskeyGrinder]

63. Slack, or flak?

[RockRaven]

26. One doesn't need to reverse one's support for a depraved behavior if one never

supported it in the first place. Many, many people occupy such a position. It may be a surprise to some, but lots of people can make rational and prudent moral and civil decisions by themselves, and don't need others to tell them what to do or think to be in the right. Crazy, huh?

[fujiyamasan]

52. One thing I feel is lacking

In this discussion over immigration and deportation is nuance, especially regarding a student visa or TPS vs. a green card. A student visa and TPS are temporary. You come here to study (or given temporary status) and that’s the purpose of it. You’re not a PERMANENT resident, which is what green card is. I find his case more disturbing than even Garcias, since there’s no crime, no allegation of a crime, and based on his status.

Historically it takes a high bar to deport someone with a green card. There have been rare exceptions but for the most part green card holders have all the same rights as citizens aside from voting and security clearances.

I may not agree with anything Khalil is saying, but his speech is not a ground for deportation. Even if he committed a crime, that should potentially bar him from citizenship, but a deportation would have to be the result of a heinous crime. We’re seeing an administration simply lowering the bar to deport anyone they can, partly due to the quotas they have themselves. It’s a really slippery slope and it’s a shame Garcia is taking all the spotlight, because the situation is much worse than it appears. Denaturalization and stripping people of their citizenship is next.