Federal Authorities Arrest Palestinian Activist Mahmoud Khalil Amid Trump’s Crackdown

NEW YORK (AP) — In a significant escalation of President Donald Trump’s crackdown on pro-Palestinian activism, federal immigration authorities arrested Mahmoud Khalil, a recent Columbia University graduate, on Saturday night. Khalil, a green card holder and a prominent figure in student-led protests against the war in Gaza, now faces potential deportation despite not being charged with any crime.

According to his attorney, Amy Greer, ICE agents detained Khalil at his university-owned apartment. Greer stated that during the arrest, an ICE agent told her they were acting on orders from the State Department to revoke Khalil’s student visa. However, Khalil was in the U.S. as a permanent resident, leading to confusion regarding his immigration status.

Department of Homeland Security spokesperson Tricia McLaughlin confirmed Khalil’s arrest, which the agency characterized as being supportive of Trump’s executive orders that target alleged anti-Semitism linked to pro-Palestinian expressions. McLaughlin accused Khalil of “leading activities aligned to Hamas, a designated terrorist organization.”

The arrest of Khalil marks the first known deportation attempt under the Trump administration targeting student activists involved in pro-Palestinian demonstrations. Khalil’s involvement in Columbia’s Gaza Solidarity Encampment last spring made him a prominent figure among student activists speaking out against Israel’s military operations.

The incident drew immediate backlash from civil rights advocates, leading to a rally in New York City where demonstrators called for Khalil’s release. Protesters insisted his arrest was a direct attack on free speech and student activism, highlighting what they see as escalating government repression against political dissent.

“This is a clear escalation. The administration is following through on its threats,” Greer told The Associated Press, adding that Khalil’s role as a negotiator in the protests placed him on the administration’s radar. Khalil’s wife, who is eight months pregnant, expressed concern about his detention and the impact it is having on their family.

Demonstrators in New York voiced their concerns that Khalil’s arrest was part of a broader agenda to silence pro-Palestinian voices on college campuses. Secretary of State Marco Rubio emphasized the administration’s stance, asserting that they would revoke the visas of individuals deemed as Hamas supporters.

Legal experts have criticized Khalil’s detention as a troubling precedent, arguing that the federal government’s application of immigration law to deport a legal resident without formal charges raises serious due process issues. Camille Mackler, founder of Immigrant ARC, described it as a retaliatory move against dissenting opinions. “There is a question of whether due process is going to happen here or for anyone else,” she said.

Khalil’s legal team moved quickly to challenge his detention, arguing that ICE’s actions are unconstitutional. As the legal proceedings continue, the implications of Khalil’s case pose significant questions about the future of free speech and activism in the United States.