NEW YORK (AP) — Federal immigration agents arrested Mahmoud Khalil, a Palestinian graduate student, during a weekend operation at Columbia University. His attorney, Amy Greer, shared that agents entered his university residence and took him into custody.
According to Greer, the agents said they were acting on orders from the State Department to revoke Khalil’s student visa. Khalil, a permanent resident with a green card, was informed that his status was also being revoked. This move seems to be one of the first actions under President Trump’s initiative to deport international students involved in protests against Israel’s actions in Gaza last spring.
Khalil played a key role in student protests, negotiating with university officials over important issues. His willingness to be identified made him a notable figure among the activists.
His wife, who is eight months pregnant, has been left in the dark about the reasons for his arrest. Khalil is now held in an immigration detention facility in Elizabeth, New Jersey. Greer described the situation as alarming, suggesting that it represents an escalation of the administration’s threats against dissenters.
A spokesperson for Columbia University stated that law enforcement typically needs a warrant to enter school property but did not clarify whether one was presented before Khalil’s arrest. Requests for comments were made to various federal agencies, including the State Department and ICE.
The Department of Homeland Security can initiate deportation for green card holders accused of a range of offenses, including support for terrorist organizations. Ultimately, an immigration judge would decide whether to revoke someone’s permanent resident status. Camille Mackler, an immigrant rights advocate, indicated that Khalil’s arrest might be retaliatory for expressing views contrary to the administration’s stance.
Khalil is among a group of students currently under investigation by Columbia for their criticisms of Israel. This scrutiny has increased since the Trump administration accused the university of not adequately addressing antisemitism on campus. Recently, federal agencies threatened to cut $400 million in grants to the university as part of this broader scrutiny.
Specific allegations against Khalil involve his participation in the Columbia University Apartheid Divest group and claims that he helped organize an unauthorized event celebrating Hamas’ actions. Khalil reported that he had around 13 allegations against him, largely tied to social media posts he didn’t create. He expressed concerns that the current actions are intended to suppress pro-Palestinian voices among students.
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Source linkDonald Trump, New Jersey, Colleges and universities, Mahmoud Khalil, Immigration, U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement, U.S. Department of State, Protests and demonstrations, Manhattan, Law enforcement, General news, AP Top News, New York City Wire, NY State Wire, U.S. news, Politics, Camille Mackler, Education, U.S. Department of Homeland Security, Amy Greer, Palestinian territories government, Activism, Hamas
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