Federal immigration authorities arrested Palestinian activist Mahmoud Khalil, a former Columbia University graduate student, in a significant escalation of the Trump administration’s crackdown on student activists. Khalil, detained in his university-owned apartment, had his student visa revoked and green card threatened despite being a permanent resident. The arrest, purportedly in support of Trump’s anti-Semitism executive orders, is the first known deportation move targeting student protesters against the Gaza conflict, accused of supporting Hamas.
ICE agents also threatened Khalil’s pregnant American citizen wife during the arrest, adding to the escalating situation with uncertain legal grounds. The administration’s actions against Khalil, a visible figure in pro-Palestinian activism at Columbia, have drawn criticism for potential retaliatory motives. Khalil’s involvement in the Apartheid Divest group at Columbia led to disciplinary actions over alleged unauthorized events and social media posts criticizing Zionism.
The arrest has sparked concerns about free speech and political retaliation, with immigration experts questioning the legal basis for targeting a legal permanent resident without criminal charges. Khalil’s detainment has broader implications for student activism and government responses to protests on college campuses. The Trump administration’s crackdown on perceived anti-Israel sentiments and connections to designated terrorist organizations like Hamas has raised alarms about civil liberties and academic freedom.
