Arrest of Palestinian Student Activist Sparks Controversy

NEW YORK — Federal immigration authorities arrested a Palestinian graduate student who played a prominent role in protests against Israel at Columbia University, according to his attorney.

Mahmoud Khalil was inside a university-owned residence Saturday night near Columbia’s Manhattan campus when several Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents entered his apartment and took him into custody, his attorney, Amy Greer, told The Associated Press.

The Arrest and Its Aftermath

Greer said she spoke by phone with one of the ICE agents during the arrest, who said they were acting on State Department orders to revoke Khalil’s student visa. Informed by the attorney that Khalil was in the United States as a permanent resident with a green card, the agent said they were revoking that too, according to the lawyer.

A spokesperson for the Department of Homeland Security, Tricia McLaughlin, confirmed Khalil’s arrest in a statement Sunday, describing it as being “in support of President Trump’s executive orders prohibiting anti-Semitism.”

The arrest appeared to be among the first known actions under President Donald Trump’s pledge to deport international students who joined the protests against the war in Gaza that swept college campuses last spring.

Background and Context

His administration has said participants forfeited their rights to remain in the country by supporting Hamas, a terror organization.

When ICE agents arrived at the campus building Saturday, they also threatened to arrest Khalil’s wife, an American citizen who is eight months pregnant, Greer said. The authorities declined to say why Khalil was being arrested, according to the attorney.

They were initially told he was transferred to an immigration detention facility in Elizabeth, N.J. But when his wife tried to visit Sunday, she learned he not there — and may have been transferred as far away as Louisiana, Greer said.

Reactions and Implications

“We have not been able to get any more details about why he is being detained,” Greer told the AP. “This is a clear escalation. The administration is following through on its threats.”

A Columbia spokesperson said law enforcement agents must produce a warrant before entering university property, but declined to say if the school had received one ahead of Khalil’s arrest. The spokesperson also declined to comment on Khalil’s detention.

In a message shared on X Sunday evening, Secretary of State Marco Rubio said the administration “will be revoking the visas and/or green cards of Hamas supporters in America so they can be deported.”

Legal and Procedural Aspects

The Department of Homeland Security can initiate deportation proceedings against green card holders for a broad range of alleged criminal activity, including supporting a terror group.

It would ultimately be up to an immigration judge to revoke someone’s permanent resident status, according to Camille Mackler, founder of Immigrant ARC, a coalition of legal service providers in New York.

“This has the appearance of a retaliatory action against someone who expressed an opinion the Trump administration didn’t like,” Mackler said.

Khalil’s Involvement and Activism

Khalil served as a negotiator for students as they bargained with university officials over an end to the tent encampment erected on campus last spring, a role that made him one of the most visible activists in support of the movement.

He was also among those under investigation by a new Columbia University office that has brought disciplinary charges against dozens of students for their pro-Palestinian activism, according to records shared with the AP.

The investigations come as the Trump administration has cut hundreds of millions of dollars in funding to Columbia because of what the government describes as the Ivy League school’s failure to squelch antisemitism on campus.

University’s Allegations and Khalil’s Response

The university’s allegations against Khalil focused on his involvement in the Columbia University Apartheid Divest group. He faced sanctions for potentially helping to organize an “unauthorized marching event” in which participants glorified Hamas’ Oct. 7, 2023, attack and playing a “substantial role” in the circulation of social media posts criticizing Zionism, among other acts of alleged discrimination.

“I have around 13 allegations against me, most of them are social media posts that I had nothing to do with,” Khalil told the AP last week.

“They just want to show Congress and right-wing politicians that they’re doing something, regardless of the stakes for students,” he added. “It’s mainly an office to chill pro-Palestine speech.”

Conclusion

The arrest of Mahmoud Khalil has sparked controversy and raised concerns about the Trump administration’s policies on immigration, free speech, and academic freedom. As the situation continues to unfold, it remains to be seen how the case will be resolved and what implications it may have for students, universities, and the broader community.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

Q: Who is Mahmoud Khalil and why was he arrested?

A: Mahmoud Khalil is a Palestinian graduate student at Columbia University who was arrested by federal immigration authorities for his involvement in protests against Israel and alleged support of Hamas, a terror organization.

Q: What are the implications of Khalil’s arrest for international students and green card holders?

A: The arrest of Khalil has raised concerns about the Trump administration’s policies on immigration and the potential for deportation of international students and green card holders who engage in activism or express opinions that are deemed unacceptable by the administration.

Q: What is the role of the Columbia University office that brought disciplinary charges against Khalil and other students?

A: The Columbia University office is responsible for investigating and addressing allegations of antisemitism on campus, but critics argue that it is being used to suppress pro-Palestinian speech and activism.

Q: What are the potential consequences for Khalil and other students who face disciplinary charges or deportation proceedings?

A: The potential consequences for Khalil and other students who face disciplinary charges or deportation proceedings include revocation of their student visas or green cards, deportation, and damage to their academic and professional careers.