Mahmoud Khalil, a Palestinian activist and Columbia University graduate student, was arrested by ICE amid protests on campus. Detained for alleged ties to Hamas, his situation has sparked significant outrage, leading to demonstrations and discussions about civil rights and immigration policies. Khalil’s attorney is pursuing legal recourse, while university officials reaffirm their commitment to supporting students’ rights.
Protests have erupted at Columbia University following the arrest of Palestinian activist Mahmoud Khalil, a graduate student involved in campus demonstrations. He was detained by Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) officials as the Trump administration announced intentions to revoke visas and green cards for individuals supporting Hamas. Khalil is a permanent U.S. resident with a green card and previously organized anti-Israel protests on campus.
Khalil was arrested at his university-owned apartment on a Saturday night and is currently held at an immigration facility in Elizabeth, New Jersey. His attorney, Amy Greer, reported that ICE agents have threatened to detain Khalil’s pregnant wife, an American citizen. Reports suggest that the agency is acting under State Department orders to rescind Khalil’s student visa and green card based on allegations of supporting a designated terrorist organization, Hamas.
Born in Syria in 1995, Khalil earned his undergraduate degree in Beirut before pursuing a graduate degree at Columbia’s School of International and Public Affairs. He served as a key negotiator during student protests last spring and has become a noted figure in the pro-Palestinian movement on campus. His activism has attracted scrutiny, including investigations by Columbia University regarding disciplinary charges related to his activities.
This arrest marks a significant enforcement of President Trump’s policies targeting alleged Hamas supporters within academia. The administration halted $400 million in federal funding to Columbia University due to perceived inadequate responses to harassment of Jewish students. An executive order aims to deport foreign nationals who break the law during protests following the recent terrorist attacks.
In response, Columbia University reiterated its commitment to the student legal rights and pledged to uphold its legal obligations. Khalil’s attorney has announced intentions to challenge the arrest legally, calling the actions against Khalil “a terrible and inexcusable – and calculated – wrong committed against him.” Community members and various organizations are rallying to support Khalil, with planned protests demanding his release from ICE detention.
The case of Mahmoud Khalil encapsulates the tensions surrounding immigration enforcement and political activism on U.S. college campuses. His arrest underscores the Trump administration’s aggressive stance toward alleged Hamas sympathizers, raising critical questions about civil rights and the implications for immigrant communities. Protests reflect a growing solidarity within the academic community and the broader public, emphasizing the struggle for justice and advocacy on behalf of detained individuals.
Original Source: www.fox5ny.com
