As we’ve discussed (here and here), the Trump administration is attempting to deport Mahmoud Khalil, who was born in Syria, claims to be Palestinian, holds a green card (i.e., he’s a lawful permanent resident alien), and was a ringleader of the pro-Hamas agitation at Columbia (from which he graduated with a master’s degree in December). There is a hearing in Manhattan federal court this morning (I’m scheduled to be on Fox’s coverage, starting at about 11:30 a.m. Eastern Time).

In anticipation of all that, I have an op-ed at Fox Opinion, which will hopefully amuse cinephiles and law-enforcement types alike. It opens:

I actually was a mafia and terrorism prosecutor before I started playing one on television. In that vein, with the Trump administration pursuing its worthy goal of booting alien terrorist supporters out of our country, we need to think about the First Amendment — specifically, the rights of free speech and free association.

So, at the risk of further dating myself, before we talk about Mahmoud Khalil, I want to talk to you about Tom Hagen.

Film buffs will instantly remember Hagen (portrayed by Robert Duvall) as the consigliere of the Corleone family in the iconic Godfather movies of the early seventies (adapted from Mario Puzo’s novels). In perhaps his most memorable vignette, Hagen would tell you he was a “mediator,” interceding on behalf of Don Corleone with Jack Woltz, a famous Hollywood producer.

Remember: Hagen tries to persuade Woltz that if he doesn’t give a coveted role in a highly anticipated movie to the Don’s godson, bad things are apt to happen. And sure enough, after spurning Hagen the “mediator,” the producer soon awakens to find the severed head of his prized racehorse under his blood-soaked satin sheets. Having thus gotten his mind right, Woltz gives the godson the part.

We might euphemistically say that Hagen was there to “reason” with Woltz — to “make him an offer he can’t refuse.” In the law, however, we have a different word for it: extortion. . . .

The rest is here.