Federal immigration authorities arrested Palestinian graduate student Mahmoud Khalil, a prominent activist against Israel at Columbia University. ICE agents entered his apartment near the campus and took him into custody, revoking his student visa and green card. Khalil’s wife, who is eight months pregnant, was also threatened with arrest. The reason for his arrest was not disclosed, and he may have been transferred to a detention facility in Louisiana.
The arrest follows President Trump’s pledge to deport international students who supported protests against the war in Gaza. The administration claims such students forfeit their right to remain in the country by supporting Hamas, a designated terror organization. Khalil, known for his role in negotiating with university officials during a campus protest, has also been targeted by a Columbia University office investigating pro-Palestinian activists.
The State Department has stated that visas and green cards of Hamas supporters will be revoked for deportation. Green card holders can be deported for a range of alleged criminal activities, including supporting a terror group, with decisions made by an immigration judge. Critics view Khalil’s arrest as retaliatory for expressing dissenting views against the Trump administration’s stance on Israel. The accusations against him include organizing unauthorized events glorifying Hamas and circulating anti-Zionist social media posts.
Khalil claims the allegations are baseless and intended to suppress pro-Palestinian speech on campus. The arrest is seen as an escalation in targeting activists critical of Israel and raises concerns about freedom of expression on college campuses.
Note: The image is for illustrative purposes only and is not the original image associated with the presented article. Due to copyright reasons, we are unable to use the original images. However, you can still enjoy the accurate and up-to-date content and information provided.
