Lawyers for Mahmoud Khalil say the detained Columbia University student felt he was being kidnapped after his arrest and swift transfer to Louisiana.

Trying to deport Khalil for demonstrating against Israel is an obvious violation of his rights and an attempt to intimidate others, they say.

The Trump administration has not been subtle about its intentions. A White House official, speaking anonymously to the Free Press, told the right-leaning media organization that Khalil’s arrest would be a “blueprint” for other actions.

The Trump administration has undertaken a radical attempt to deport Mahmoud Khalil, a permanent U.S. resident and Palestinian activist. Immigration agents took him into custody on Saturday at Columbia University,

Mahmoud Khalil is a green card holder who played a role in pro-Palestinian protests at Columbia University and is now facing deportation by the Trump Administration. NBC News' Tom Llamas spoke to one of his attorneys,