Is the United States Still a Free Speech Country?

By now, many have read about the shocking arrest of Rumeysa Kiger, a Turkish-born U.S. resident and peaceful activist, who was detained by Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) after posting critical messages about the Turkish government on social media. According to a recent CBC report, Kiger—an academic, mother, and outspoken advocate for women’s rights in Turkey—was held in ICE custody without warning, following pressure from Turkish authorities.

Let that sink in. A woman exercising her First Amendment rights in the United States was detained—possibly as a result of foreign influence. If true, this development is not just alarming; it’s a fundamental threat to the very idea that the U.S. is a sanctuary for free expression.

The facts raise deeply uncomfortable questions:

Why would U.S. authorities cooperate—either directly or indirectly—with a foreign regime known for suppressing dissent?

Is ICE now responding to diplomatic pressure from authoritarian governments to silence critics within U.S. borders?

If someone can be arrested not for breaking a law, but for what they say—especially when speaking out against tyranny—can we still say the United States protects freedom of speech?

It’s tempting to view this case as a one-off, a mistake, or a misunderstanding. But when peaceful activism leads to detention, and when lawful speech triggers immigration consequences, that’s not an isolated incident. That’s a signal.

Kiger’s case also highlights the unique vulnerability of immigrants—even those who are fully integrated, educated, and contributing members of society. Despite the U.S. Constitution’s protections, immigration law operates in a separate legal sphere. Non-citizens can be detained or deported on broad and opaque grounds, sometimes with little transparency and limited due process.

This is especially troubling when those targeted are women, political dissidents, or people advocating for human rights abroad. If U.S. soil is no longer a safe place for them to speak, what example does that set for the rest of the world?

The United States has long branded itself as a beacon of liberty—a nation where ideas can be challenged, power can be questioned, and speech is protected even when it is unpopular. But as this case suggests, that promise may be more fragile than we think.

So we must ask, seriously and urgently:

Is the United States still a free speech country—especially if your passport says otherwise?

Let us hope the answer is yes. But hope is not enough. We must demand clarity, transparency, and above all, accountability—before silence becomes the safest option.