Is free speech under attack in the US?

The United States, often touted as a champion of freedom of speech and democracy, seems to be facing a concerning erosion of its own principles. Over 1,000 international students and recent graduates have had their legal statuses altered or visas revoked, while American citizens have faced detentions at airports and border crossings, interrogations about political beliefs, and even searches of their phones linked to President Trump's politics. These actions raise unsettling questions: Who is being silenced in this quiet erosion of First Amendment rights? Is the erosion of democracy in America becoming more intentional over time?