In a move that has sparked widespread concern among civil rights advocates and university communities, federal immigration authorities arrested Mahmoud Khalil, a former graduate student at Columbia University and a key figure in last spring’s protests against Israel’s military actions in Gaza. The arrest occurred Saturday night when several agents from Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) entered Khalil’s university-owned apartment without prior notice, according to his attorney, Amy Greer.
Khalil, who holds permanent residency status in the United States with a green card, was taken into custody under circumstances that have raised questions about the legal grounds for his detention. Greer told reporters that she spoke directly with one of the ICE agents during the raid. Initially, the agent claimed they were acting on State Department orders to revoke Khalil’s student visa. However, upon being informed by Greer that Khalil no longer relied on a student visa but instead possessed a green card, the agent allegedly stated that his permanent residency would be revoked instead.
The incident marks a significant escalation in the Trump administration’s efforts to target individuals involved in anti-war demonstrations on college campuses. A spokesperson for the Department of Homeland Security, Tricia McLaughlin, confirmed Khalil’s arrest in a statement released Sunday. She described the action as part of an initiative “in support of President Trump’s executive orders prohibiting anti-Semitism.” This justification has drawn sharp criticism from advocacy groups, which argue that it conflates criticism of Israeli policies with anti-Semitism—a distinction many scholars and activists insist is crucial.
Mahmoud Khalil became a campus leader as an outspoken advocate of Palestinian rights. His leadership in protesting Israel’s armed invasion into Gaza thrust him into the center of a nationwide movement that burst into flame last spring. The demonstrations themselves were as much to condemn the foreign policy of the United States and America’s apparent condoning of what Israel was doing as they were to condemn violence. While some described these demonstrations as a valid exercise in free speech, others described the demonstrators as being imbued with an ideology that is extremism or supporting such entities as Hamas—a contention leveled by critics without particular evidence.
A Campus Leader
Khalil’s arrest represents the first publicly known attempt to deport a student activist under the Trump administration’s controversial pledge to crack down on such protests. Officials have argued that participation in these events constitutes forfeiture of the right to remain in the country, particularly if attendees are deemed supportive of designated terrorist groups. The critics, however, viewed this reasoning overly generalized and politically motivated, and warned that a dangerous precedent could be established for academic freedom and dissent.
Shock and outrage at the arrest of Khalil have been expressed by friends and colleagues. “Mahmoud has always been someone who believes deeply in justice and human rights,” said Sarah Chen, a fellow alum of Columbia. “It is very heartbreaking to see him treated this way, as it sends a chilling message to anyone who dares to speak out.”
As the news about the arrest trickles in, it becomes much louder in demands for Khalil’s release. Advocacy organizations, such as the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU), have condemned the move as an assault on free expression and demanded clarity on the terms of its legal basis for revoking his residency. In the meantime, supporters will hold vigils and rallies across the country, talking about accountability for civil liberties erosion and how it is being carried out under much more aggressive immigration enforcement policies.
He is now in jail, but the future is uncertain for Khalil. His case is emblematic of the tense intersection of politics, activism, and immigration law-a reminder of what is at issue facing would-be challengers in their tumultuous environment today.
