Federal immigration authorities arrested Mahmoud Khalil, a Palestinian activist and former Columbia University graduate student, on Saturday. Khalil, who played a significant role in the university’s pro-Palestinian protests, was taken into custody by Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents at his university-owned apartment in Manhattan.
His attorney, Amy Greer, stated that ICE agents informed her they were revoking Khalil’s student visa on orders from the State Department. When she clarified that Khalil was a legal permanent resident with a green card, the agent responded that they were revoking that instead.
A spokesperson for the Department of Homeland Security, Tricia McLaughlin, confirmed the arrest, citing its connection to President Trump’s executive orders against antisemitism. Khalil’s detention marks the first publicly known case of deportation efforts linked to student activism against the Gaza war. The administration has maintained that those involved in such protests have forfeited their right to remain in the country due to alleged ties to Hamas.
McLaughlin claimed that Khalil led activities aligned with Hamas, which is designated as a terrorist organization by the U.S. government. As ICE agents arrested him, they also reportedly threatened to detain his American-citizen wife, who is eight months pregnant.
Initially, authorities indicated that Khalil was being held at an immigration detention center in Elizabeth, New Jersey. However, when his wife attempted to visit, she was informed that he was not there. His attorney confirmed Sunday night that she was unaware of his current whereabouts and had received no further details about the reason for his detention.
A Columbia University spokesperson stated that law enforcement agents must provide a warrant to enter university property but declined to comment on whether one was presented before Khalil’s arrest. The school also refused to comment on his detention.
Secretary of State Marco Rubio later posted on X that the administration would revoke visas and green cards of individuals deemed to be Hamas supporters in the U.S. The Department of Homeland Security has broad authority to initiate deportation proceedings against green card holders for alleged criminal activity, including associations with designated terror groups. However, legal experts noted that Khalil’s detention, despite not being charged with a crime, was an unusual move with uncertain legal grounds.
Camille Mackler, founder of Immigrant ARC, suggested that Khalil’s arrest appeared to be a retaliatory action against someone expressing views the administration opposed.
Khalil, who recently earned his master’s degree in international affairs from Columbia, was a key negotiator in student discussions with university officials regarding last year’s campus protests. His activism made him a target for pro-Israel groups, which had recently urged the administration to take legal action against him.
Columbia University also launched its own investigation into Khalil and other students involved in the Columbia University Apartheid Divest movement. He faces multiple disciplinary charges, including accusations of organizing an unauthorized march that allegedly glorified Hamas’ October 7, 2023, attack and participating in social media campaigns critical of Zionism.
Khalil stated that most allegations against him stemmed from social media posts he was not involved in and described the university’s disciplinary process as an effort to suppress pro-Palestinian speech.
The Trump administration has recently cut hundreds of millions of dollars in federal funding to Columbia University, citing its failure to prevent antisemitic incidents on campus.
