A former graduate student from Columbia University, Mahmoud Khalil, who was detained by federal immigration agents due to his pro-Palestinian advocacy, is now seeking release from a detention center in Louisiana. His attorneys are planning to request his return from the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement facility in Louisiana where he is currently held as he fights against deportation. They are challenging the validity of his detention, and U.S. District Court Judge Jesse M. Furman has ordered that Khalil not be removed from the country for now. The arrest of Khalil has sparked nationwide protests, with many claiming that the Trump administration is unlawfully targeting pro-Palestinian activists for deportation. President Donald Trump hinted that Khalil’s arrest is just the beginning of similar actions to come.
Naz Ahmad, co-director of the CLEAR Project, a legal aid nonprofit affiliated with the City University of New York that is representing Khalil, stated, “It’s very clear that this is retaliation for his speech, as they find his views objectionable. They are using him as an example to instill fear in others.” The White House Press Secretary, Karoline Leavitt, mentioned that Secretary of State Marco Rubio has the authority to revoke Khalil’s status in the country for allegedly supporting adversaries of the U.S. Pro-Israel groups have pointed out Khalil’s participation in a protest at Barnard College and labeled him as a “suspected foreign national” on a foreign visa.
Supporters of Mahmoud Khalil, who is detained by ICE and holds a green card as a permanent U.S. resident, marched in downtown New York City demanding his release from immigration custody. Khalil, a key figure in last year’s pro-Palestinian demonstrations at Columbia University, was detained by the federal government despite his legal status. In response, protesters are calling for his release in New York, where Columbia University has restricted access to campus due to the protests Khalil led against Israel’s actions in Gaza.
Khalil, born in Syria and of Palestinian descent, completed his studies at Columbia University and was actively involved in organizing protests against Israel following the 2023 attacks and kidnappings by Hamas militants. The Trump administration has accused him of activities aligned with Hamas, a designated terrorist organization, with the Department of Homeland Security asserting that Khalil’s arrest was in line with executive orders aimed at combating antisemitism. Khalil, who is married to an American citizen expecting a child, played a significant role in the protests at Columbia and is described as a green card holder.
During press conferences and private discussions with university officials, negotiations took a turn for the worse when some protesters occupied a university building. Administrators then called upon the police to enter the campus and carry out mass arrests. Mahmoud Khalil, a 29-year-old graduate student at Columbia University, was seen outside the campus gates in New York City on April 30, 2024. Due to Khalil’s prominent role in the protests, his attorney, Amy Greer, described how he faced a targeted online harassment campaign from individuals supportive of Israel for his advocacy for Palestinian human rights, which are protected under the First Amendment. Greer stated in court filings that Khalil had requested protection from Columbia as recently as early Friday morning, following threats labeling him as a terrorist and calling for his deportation. Khalil expressed fears of being targeted by ICE or other dangerous individuals, jeopardizing the safety of himself and his family. On Saturday night, plainclothes immigration agents halted Khalil outside his apartment, and despite being a green card holder and permanent U.S. resident, he was told by Special Agent Elvin Hernandez that his student visa had been revoked. Following his arrest, Khalil’s whereabouts were unknown to his wife and attorney until he was located in an ICE facility in Jena, Louisiana, far from his home. Attorneys are now working to secure Mahmoud Khalil’s freedom following his arrest in NYC.
