Prominent Pro-Palestinian Activist Detained by U.S. Immigration Officials

Mahmoud Khalil, a pivotal figure in pro-Palestinian protests at Columbia University, faces detention by ICE, raising concerns over immigration policies and civil rights. His lawyer claims he is a legal permanent resident, contradicting ICE's statement about his visa status.

A key student activist involved in last year's pro-Palestinian protests at Columbia University has been taken into custody by federal immigration authorities, as reported by his legal representative. Mahmoud Khalil, a Palestinian refugee with roots in Syria, was noted for his leadership as the main student negotiator during the encampment protests on the university’s Manhattan campus.

According to his attorney, Amy Greer, Khalil was apprehended at his university-owned residence on Saturday by Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents. The protests at Columbia last year marked a significant moment in the nationwide movement advocating for Palestinian rights amidst the ongoing conflict in Gaza.

Greer stated that the agents informed Khalil that his student visa had been revoked. However, she clarified that he is a legal permanent resident and holds a green card, being married to a U.S. citizen. Following his arrest, reports indicated that Khalil was transferred to an ICE facility in Elizabeth, New Jersey, yet his wife's attempt to visit him was met with conflicting information regarding his detention status.

As of now, Khalil's exact whereabouts remain unclear, despite an online search suggesting he might still be held at the Elizabeth facility. Greer criticized the situation as "terrible and inexcusable," asserting that such actions against her client were not only wrongful but also calculated.

Khalil played a crucial role during last summer's protests where he facilitated negotiations between student demonstrators and university officials. Some protests involved students taking over academic spaces, leading to police arrests, although Khalil was not among those detained. His temporary suspension from the university came amidst these tensions.

His detention aligns with an executive order from former President Donald Trump that threatened deportation for those engaged in "pro-jihadist protests." The protests have sparked a complex discourse regarding antisemitism, with different perspectives emerging from the student body, further complicating the narrative around free speech and civil rights on campuses.

The conflict escalated following a catastrophic attack on Israel by Hamas on October 7, 2023, which saw a tragic loss of life, prompting further military actions in Gaza. The ongoing violence has provoked widespread international responses, with statistics claiming over 48,000 Palestinian casualties amidst the Israeli strike.

Amid these developments, Columbia University’s interim president, Katrina Armstrong, sent university-wide communication regarding the impact of the revocation of federal funding aimed at addressing antisemitism on campus, just as tensions over the protests have been reignited nationally.