New York – Federal immigration authorities have arrested a Palestinian graduate student, Mahmoud Khalil, who played a prominent role in last spring’s anti-Israel protests at Columbia University. According to his attorney, Khalil was taken into custody on Saturday night by Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents while he was inside his university-owned residence near Columbia’s Manhattan campus.
Khalil’s attorney, Amy Greer, spoke to The Associated Press and revealed that she had a phone conversation with one of the ICE agents during the arrest. The agent informed her that they were acting on State Department orders to revoke Khalil’s student visa. When Greer informed the agent that Khalil was a permanent resident with a green card, the agent said they were revoking that as well.
This arrest appears to be one of the first known actions under President Donald Trump’s pledge to deport international students who participated in the protests against Israel’s war in Gaza last spring. The Trump administration has claimed that these students have forfeited their rights to remain in the country by supporting Hamas, a designated terror organization.
Khalil was a negotiator for the students during their discussions with university officials to end the tent encampment that was erected on campus. This role made him one of the few student activists who were willing to share their name and identity.
Greer also revealed that the authorities did not inform Khalil’s wife, who is eight months pregnant, of the reason for his arrest. Khalil has since been transferred to an immigration detention facility in Elizabeth, New Jersey.
“We have not been able to get any more details about why he is being detained,” Greer told the AP. “This is a clear escalation. The administration is following through on its threats.”
A spokesperson for Columbia University stated that law enforcement agents must produce a warrant before entering university property, but declined to comment on whether the school had received one prior to Khalil’s arrest. The spokesperson also did not comment on Khalil’s detention.
The State Department, Department of Homeland Security, and ICE were all contacted for comment but did not respond.
According to Camille Mackler, founder of Immigrant ARC, a coalition of legal service providers in New York, the Department of Homeland Security can initiate deportation proceedings against green card holders for a broad range of alleged criminal activity, including supporting a terror group. However, it would ultimately be up to an immigration judge to revoke someone’s permanent resident status.
Mackler also expressed her concern that this arrest may be a retaliatory action against Khalil for expressing his opinions, which the Trump administration may not agree with.
Khalil was among the students investigated by a new office at Columbia University that has brought disciplinary charges against dozens of students for expressing criticism of Israel. These investigations come as the Trump administration has increased scrutiny on the university for its alleged failure to address antisemitism on campus. On Friday, federal agencies announced that they would be cutting $400 million in grants and contracts from the university.
The allegation against Khalil focused on his involvement with the Columbia University Apartheid Divest group, claiming that he had helped organize an “unauthorized marching event” that glorified Hamas’ 2023 terrorist attack and played a “substantial role” in circulating social media posts criticizing Zionism.
In an interview with the AP last week, Khalil stated, “I have around 13 allegations against me, most of them are social media posts that I had nothing to do with.” He also added, “They just want to show Congress and right-wing politicians that they’re doing something, regardless of the stakes for students. It’s mainly an office to chill pro-Palestine speech.”
This arrest has sparked outrage among students and activists who see it as an attack on free speech and the right to peacefully protest. Many are calling for Khalil’s immediate release and for the charges against him to be dropped.
In a statement, the Columbia University Apartheid Divest group said, “We stand in solidarity with Mahmoud Khalil and demand his immediate release. This is a clear violation of his rights and an attempt to silence those who speak out against injustice.”
The American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) has also condemned Khalil’s arrest, stating that it is a violation of his First Amendment rights. They have called on the government to provide a clear explanation for his detention and to release him immediately.
This incident has raised concerns about the targeting of students and activists who speak out against the Israeli government
