A pro-Palestinian activist, Mahmoud Khalil, who played a significant role in last year's student protests at Columbia University in New York City, is currently being held in immigration custody in Louisiana. Recent records indicate that Khalil was detained over the weekend at his university-owned apartment in Manhattan.
According to his attorney, immigration officials from Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) informed Khalil, a Syrian-born individual, that they were revoking his student visa and green card at the time of his detention. The Department of Homeland Security has stated that Khalil engaged in activities that aligned with Hamas, a classification that has drawn national attention and controversy.
Initially, Khalil was taken to an immigration holding facility in New Jersey. However, when his wife attempted to visit him on Sunday, she was informed that he was no longer there. The online locator system later indicated that he had been transferred to a facility in Jena, Louisiana. A spokesperson for the Department of Homeland Security confirmed that Khalil's detention was in accordance with President Trump's executive orders aimed at combating antisemitism.
Amy Greer, Khalil's attorney, emphasized that her client is a legal permanent resident with a green card and is married to an American citizen who is currently eight months pregnant. Reports suggest that when ICE agents arrived at Columbia University, they also threatened to arrest Khalil's wife, raising concerns about the treatment of family members during such detentions.
Columbia University issued a statement confirming that law enforcement agents can access university property if they present a warrant. The university has been at the center of debates over antisemitism and free speech, especially following the protests against the Gaza war last year, where Khalil served as the lead negotiator for the Columbia University Apartheid Divest campaign.
During the protests, demonstrators set up a large tent encampment on the university lawn and some students temporarily occupied an academic building, resulting in over 100 arrests. Khalil was not part of that group but later revealed to the BBC that he had faced temporary suspension from the university while he was a graduate student at the School of International and Public Affairs.
Some Jewish students at Columbia have claimed that the rhetoric during the protests occasionally crossed into antisemitism, while others joined in solidarity with the pro-Palestinian movement. The political landscape shifted recently when President Donald Trump announced plans to revoke federal funding for universities perceived as allowing illegal protests. In a post on Truth Social, he declared that individuals who incite unrest would face deportation or imprisonment.
Jacob Hamburger, a visiting assistant professor at Cornell Law School, commented on the unusual nature of Khalil's detention, noting that while lawful permanent residents can sometimes be detained for specific crimes, targeting individuals solely for participating in protests is unprecedented, even during the Trump administration.
Tom Homan, Trump's former border czar, appeared on Fox News, suggesting that Khalil violated the terms of his visa by participating in protests that allegedly involved locking down buildings and property damage. He emphasized that foreign visa holders have the privilege of studying in the United States but must adhere to its laws.
The backdrop of this incident is the ongoing conflict between Israel and Hamas. Following a cross-border attack on October 7, 2023, which resulted in approximately 1,200 deaths and 251 individuals taken hostage in Israel, the Israeli military launched a campaign against Hamas. According to the Hamas-run health ministry, this military action has led to over 48,000 Palestinian casualties in Gaza.
The case of Mahmoud Khalil highlights the complex intersection of immigration law, political activism, and international conflict, raising questions about the rights of students and activists in the United States amidst a contentious political climate.
