Federal immigration authorities arrested Palestinian graduate student Mahmoud Khalil, known for his involvement in protests against Israel at Columbia University. Khalil was taken into custody in his university-owned residence near Columbia’s Manhattan campus by Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents, who claimed they were acting on State Department orders to revoke his student visa, despite Khalil being a permanent resident with a green card. The arrest is believed to be part of President Trump’s pledge to deport international students who participated in protests against the war in Gaza, accusing them of supporting Hamas.
Khalil’s wife, an American citizen who is eight months pregnant, was also threatened with arrest by ICE agents. Details surrounding Khalil’s arrest and detention remain unclear, as he may have been transferred to a facility as far away as Louisiana. The State Department, Department of Homeland Security, and ICE have not provided further information on the detention.
Khalil had a prominent role as a negotiator for students during protests at Columbia last spring and was under investigation by the university for his involvement in pro-Palestinian activism. The investigations coincided with the Trump administration’s decision to cut funding to Columbia due to allegations of antisemitism on campus. Khalil faced allegations related to his participation in the Columbia University Apartheid Divest group and his social media posts criticizing Zionism. He expressed concerns that the investigations were an attempt to suppress pro-Palestine speech on campus.
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