Columbia Graduate Arrested, Deported Amid Controversial Pro-Palestinian Protests

NEW YORK — Mahmoud Khalil, a Columbia University graduate and Palestinian activist, was arrested Saturday by Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) in a controversial move amid President Donald Trump‘s crackdown on pro-Palestinian campus activism. Khalil, who had received his master’s degree from Columbia in December, now faces potential deportation despite no formal criminal charges against him.

Khalil was taken into custody at his university-owned apartment in upper Manhattan, shortly after he returned home from dinner with his pregnant wife. His attorney, Amy Greer, stated that during the arrest, the ICE agents informed her that they were acting on State Department orders to revoke Khalil’s immigration status.

The Department of Homeland Security accused Khalil of engaging in activities aligned with Hamas, a designated terrorist organization. However, neither the White House nor the DHS has provided specific evidence of a crime that Khalil may have committed.

Speaking outside a New York court earlier this week, Khalil’s wife, Noor Abdalla, expressed her despair. “My husband was kidnapped from our home, and it’s shameful that the US government continues to hold him because he stood for the rights of his people,” she said, adding that their lives have been devastated since his detention.

Prior to his arrest, Khalil had been actively involved in the pro-Palestinian protests on the Columbia campus, serving as a negotiator during discussions with university officials. Since spring 2024, Khalil had been one of the most visible activists advocating for Palestinians, following a surge of protests against Israeli actions in Gaza.

Andrew Waller, a former British diplomat who worked with Khalil at the UK office for Syria, described him as a well-regarded colleague who had undergone extensive vetting during his employment at the British embassy in Beirut. Waller argued that Khalil’s arrest represents a dangerous infringement on political expression. “This is an example of the US administration arresting someone for their political opinions,” he said.

Khalil previously served as a program manager for the Chevening Scholarship, a prestigious UK government academic initiative. “The vetting process he went through was extensive, including an evaluation of political views. If there were any concerns, he wouldn’t have been granted a green card or allowed to work for the British government,” Waller added.

Khalil’s lawyer contended that the government’s justification for Khalil’s detention is unfounded. “It’s completely absurd that the US government is alleging he presents a threat to foreign policy interests without any concrete proof,” said Samah Sisay, noting that Khalil had not committed any crimes. “The only difference now is a shift in the executive administration.”

Columbia University has yet to publicly address its role in the situation or how it plans to protect students from similar actions by ICE. The university has faced scrutiny as activists and legal experts suggest that the Trump administration’s policies are targeting student activists at the expense of free speech rights.

Among those speaking in Khalil’s defense is Congresswoman Rashida Tlaib, who remarked on social media, “This is an attempt to criminalize political protest and a direct assault on freedom of speech.”

As Khalil awaits legal proceedings in a federal detention center, the implications of his case raise questions about academic freedom, immigrant rights, and the status of political dissent in the United States.