U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents arrested Mahmoud Khalil, a Palestinian graduate student at Columbia University, on Saturday. He played a major role in last year’s pro-Palestinian protests on campus. According to the Student Workers of Columbia union, agents detained him at his university housing.
Meet Mahmoud Khalil
Mahmoud Khalil was born in a Syrian refugee camp and grew up in a Palestinian refugee settlement in Syria. He later worked for the British embassy in Beirut before enrolling at Columbia’s School of International and Public Affairs.
At Columbia, Khalil became a well-known activist. He helped organize protests against Israel’s military actions in Gaza following the October 7, 2023, Hamas attack. Protesters set up a large tent encampment and occupied classrooms, including Hamilton Hall. Khalil served as a key negotiator, frequently meeting with university officials.
Many universities across the U.S. saw similar protests. Students criticized the Biden administration for not doing more to stop Israel’s attacks on Gaza. Some even called it genocide.
When classes resumed in September, Khalil told the Associated Press that demonstrations would continue. He stated, “As long as Columbia continues to invest and to benefit from Israeli apartheid, the students will continue to resist.”
However, his activism made him a target. Right-wing figures aligned with former President Donald Trump “doxed” him. They labeled him a terrorist and called for his deportation. Khalil’s lawyer said he repeatedly asked Columbia for protection, but the university did not take action.
Why Did ICE Arrest Him?
Khalil’s arrest appears to be part of President Donald Trump’s crackdown on foreign students involved in pro-Palestinian protests. Since taking office in January, Trump has promised to deport students and imprison “agitators” who take part in demonstrations he considers “pro-Hamas.”
His administration has also targeted Columbia University. On Friday, the federal government announced it would cut $400 million in grants and contracts, accusing the school of failing to prevent antisemitism on campus.
Khalil described the protests as an anti-war movement that included Jewish students and groups. He played a leading role in negotiations with school officials. While some protesters occupied an academic building before police intervened, Reuters reported that Khalil was not among them. Instead, he acted as a mediator between the demonstrators and Columbia’s vice provosts.
Hours before his arrest, Khalil said that he feared the government was targeting him for speaking to the media about Trump’s stance on student protests.
Life Beyond Activism
Khalil holds a green card, which grants him permanent residency in the U.S. He is also married to an American citizen.
His attorney, Amy Geer, said ICE agents told her they were acting on a State Department order to revoke his green card. They arrested Khalil at his university apartment and took him into custody.
Geer also revealed that ICE agents did not tell Khalil’s wife why he was being detained. His wife is eight months pregnant. Khalil was later transferred to an immigration detention center in Elizabeth, New Jersey.
“We have not been able to get any more details about why he is being detained,” Geer told the Associated Press. She called the arrest “a clear escalation” of the administration’s actions against student activists.
Where is He Now?
As of Sunday, Khalil remains in ICE custody at the Elizabeth detention center in New Jersey.
Columbia University responded to the arrest but did not provide details. A spokesperson said that law enforcement officials must present a warrant before entering university property. However, the school declined to confirm whether ICE had obtained one.
Khalil’s detention has sparked outrage among student groups and human rights organizations. Many view it as a direct attack on free speech and political activism. Protests demanding his release are already being planned across university campuses.
