Full transcript of the interview is available at https://www.npr.org/transcripts/nx-s1-5326015 and archived at https://web.archive.org/web/20250313171934/https://www.npr.org/transcripts/nx-s1-5326015
Key excerpt,
MARTIN: So what - how did he support Hamas? Exactly what did he do?
EDGAR: Well, I think you can see it on TV, right? It’s - this is somebody that, you know, we’ve invited and allowed the student to come into the country, and he put himself in the middle of the process of basically pro-Palestinian activity. And at this point, like I said, the Secretary of State can review his visa process at any point and revoke it…
MARTIN: Forgive me - he’s a…
EDGAR: …And that’s what we’ve done.
MARTIN: …Permanent resident. He’s not a visa holder. He’s a legal permanent resident. He has the green card, at least he did until it’s alleged that it was revoked. So, look, if the allegation is that Mr. Khalil organized protests and made speeches, after which other people engaged in prohibited activity or say, violent activity, well, Mr. Trump gave a political speech on January 6, 2021, after which some individuals engaged in violent and illegal acts. How is this any different?
EDGAR: Yeah. Well, like I said, I mean, President Trump’s a citizen and president of the United States. This is a person that came in under a visa. And again, the Secretary of State, at any point, can take a look and evaluate that visa and decide if they want to revoke it and…
MARTIN: He’s a legal permanent resident. I have to keep insisting on that. He is a legal permanent resident. So what is the standard? Is any criticism of the Israeli government a deportable offense?
EDGAR: Like I said, I think that at this point, when he was - entered into the country on a student visa, at any point, we can go through and evaluate what his status is and the Secretary of State is basically…
MARTIN: Is any criticism of the United States government a deportable offense?
EDGAR: Like I said, you know, if you go through the process and you’re a student and you’re here on a visa and you go through at any point, you…
MARTIN: Is any criticism of the government a deportable offense?
EDGAR: Like I said, you know, as a student, he comes to the United States on a student visa, applies - let me put it this way, Michel - imagine if he came in and filled out the form and said I want a student visa. They ask him, what are you going to do here? I he said I’m going…
MARTIN: He was a student.
EDGAR: …To go and protest. And…
MARTIN: So is protest…
EDGAR: …Join an antisemitic activity…
MARTIN: …A deportable event?
EDGAR: …We would never have let him in the country.
MARTIN: Is protesting a deportable offense?
EDGAR: Like I said, you’re focused on protesting. I’m focused on it’s a visa process. He went through a legal process, came into the country…
MARTIN: Are you saying that he lied on his application? He’s a lawful…
EDGAR: Well, I think…
MARTIN: …Permanent resident, married to an American citizen.
EDGAR: Well, I think if he would have declared he’s a terrorist, we would have never let him in.
MARTIN: And what did he engage in that constitutes terrorist activity?
EDGAR: I mean, Michel, have you watched it on TV? It’s pretty clear.
MARTIN: No, it isn’t.
I listened to this interview this morning and wanted to reach through my phone and smack some sense into that guy. The interviewer kept asking direct questions and Edgar kept giving non answers. And I don’t know how many times the interviewer corrected him that Khalil is married to an American and is a naturalized citizen but Edgar kept saying he was here on a visa even after being corrected numerous times.
His responses were right out of the authoritarian play book, never acknowledge you’re wrong and toe the party line. I know it’s the point but goddamn is that exasperating.
this is one of the many reasons there is no point in talking anymore. they can’t be reasoned with, they refuse to be negotiated with. they will kill us if they are not stopped.
“Permanent resident” is a step before “naturalized citizen” (but a step after “visa holder”)