Pro-Palestinian Activist Detained by U.S. Immigration Officials Amid Controversy

Mahmoud Khalil, a prominent figure in pro-Palestinian protests at Columbia University, has been detained by U.S. immigration authorities, raising concerns over the implications of his activism and the legal status related to his green card.

A student known for his leadership role during significant pro-Palestinian protests at Columbia University has been apprehended by federal immigration agents, according to his attorney. Mahmoud Khalil, a Palestinian refugee originally from Syria, served as the chief student negotiator during campus demonstrations last year opposing the Gaza war and the U.S.’s backing of Israel.

Khalil was reportedly taken into custody by Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents at his university-owned residence on Saturday. His lawyer, Amy Greer, stated that Khalil was informed his student visa had been revoked. However, she stressed that her client is a legal permanent resident with a green card and is married to a U.S. citizen. “Earlier today, we were told he had been moved to an ICE facility in Elizabeth, New Jersey,” Greer explained. Yet, when Khalil's wife, who is eight months pregnant, attempted to visit him, she was told he was not being held there.

Greer expressed confusion over her client’s current whereabouts, although records suggest a Mahmoud Khalil from Syria is facing detention at the Elizabeth Contract Detention Facility in New Jersey. The attorney characterized the treatment of her client as a “terrible and inexcusable – and calculated – wrong.”

Khalil played a pivotal role in student protests last summer, which saw activists establishing an encampment on campus and engaging with university administrators regarding their demands. While he was part of the negotiations, he was not among those who took control of an academic building, leading to arrests. Following the demonstrations, Khalil revealed he had received a temporary suspension from the university, where he is currently pursuing graduate studies in international and public affairs.

Khalil's detention comes in the wake of an executive order from President Donald Trump that threatens deportation for individuals involved in what the administration labels “pro-jihadist protests” or those sympathetic to Hamas on college grounds. Some Jewish students at Columbia have reported that the rhetoric during these protests occasionally veered into antisemitism, while other Jewish students have actively participated in the pro-Palestinian demonstrations. Recently, the Trump administration withdrew $400 million in federal grants to Columbia, alleging the university's failure to adequately combat antisemitism within its campus.

The Israeli military's ongoing offensive against Hamas was launched following a devastating cross-border attack into Israel on October 7, 2023, resulting in dire casualties, including around 1,200 Israeli fatalities and 251 individuals taken hostage. On the Palestinian side, the Hamas-run health ministry claims that over 48,000 individuals in Gaza have died due to Israel’s military actions.