Palestinian activist Mahmoud Khalil remains detained by ICE amid Trump administration’s crackdown on pro-Palestinian activism at Columbia University.
New York-NC – Mahmoud Khalil, a Palestinian activist and Columbia University graduate, remains in ICE detention in Louisiana following his arrest on Saturday. Khalil, who holds a green card, has been accused by the Trump administration of supporting Hamas, though no evidence has been presented to substantiate the claims.
His detention has sparked protests and raised concerns about the government’s crackdown on dissent, particularly targeting pro-Palestinian activists.
Khalil was detained by Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents at his university-affiliated apartment in New York City.
The agents claimed they were acting on a State Department order to revoke his student visa. However, Khalil’s legal team clarified that he is a lawful permanent resident and not in the U.S. on a student visa. Despite this, his green card was also revoked without explanation.
Khalil’s wife, who is eight months pregnant, described the arrest as traumatic, stating that ICE agents provided no warrant or justification for their actions.
The Trump administration has defended its decision under the Immigration and Nationality Act, which allows the revocation of visas or residency for individuals deemed adversarial to U.S. foreign policy or national security interests.
White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt reiterated this stance, calling Khalil a “terrorist sympathizer” due to his involvement in pro-Palestinian protests at Columbia University last year. However, Khalil’s attorneys have called these allegations “false and preposterous,” arguing that his activism falls squarely within his First Amendment rights to free speech and peaceful assembly.
The arrest has drawn widespread criticism from civil liberties groups and lawmakers. Fourteen members of Congress have signed a letter demanding Khalil’s release, citing concerns over the use of immigration law to suppress political dissent.
Protests erupted in New York City following his detention, with demonstrators gathering outside Federal Plaza to call for his release. Many activists see Khalil’s case as emblematic of a broader effort by the Trump administration to silence critics of its foreign policy toward Israel and Palestine.
Khalil played a prominent role in organizing pro-Palestinian demonstrations at Columbia University last spring, including a high-profile encampment protest against Israel’s military actions in Gaza. His efforts included negotiations with university administrators to address student demands for greater support for Palestinian rights.
These activities have made him a target of scrutiny under President Trump’s directives to crack down on what he describes as “anti-Semitic” and “anti-American” movements on college campuses.
President Trump has praised Khalil’s arrest as the “first of many,” signaling an aggressive approach toward foreign students and activists involved in similar protests. In a statement on Truth Social, Trump referred to Khalil as a “radical pro-Hamas agitator” and vowed to deport individuals he claims are undermining U.S. values and security.
Legal experts have raised concerns about the implications of such rhetoric, warning that it conflates legitimate criticism of Israeli policies with support for terrorism—a stance that could violate constitutional protections for free speech.
Khalil’s legal team has filed a habeas corpus petition challenging his detention and seeking his return to New York to face immigration proceedings closer to his family and legal counsel. U.S. District Judge Jesse Furman has temporarily blocked Khalil’s deportation while the case is under review but has not yet ruled on whether ICE must transfer him back from Louisiana.
Attorneys representing Khalil argue that his transfer to Louisiana was a deliberate tactic to isolate him from his community and frustrate legal efforts in New York federal court.
The case has also placed Columbia University under scrutiny for its handling of campus protests and its relationship with federal authorities. The university recently lost $400 million in federal funding after being accused by the Trump administration of failing to prevent anti-Semitic incidents during last year’s demonstrations.
While Columbia has not publicly commented on Khalil’s arrest, administrators have faced pressure from students and faculty to offer legal support for alumni targeted by federal immigration actions.
As Khalil awaits further court proceedings, his detention continues to galvanize supporters nationwide who view it as part of an alarming trend toward criminalizing dissent.
Activists argue that cases like Khalil’s set a dangerous precedent for using immigration law as a tool for political repression, particularly against marginalized communities advocating for human rights.
