Pro-Palestinian Activist Mahmoud Khalil Detained by US Immigration Officials

Mahmoud Khalil, a Palestinian student known for leading pro-Palestinian protests at Columbia University, was detained by US Immigration and Customs Enforcement. His attorney claims he is a legal permanent resident, sparking a debate on immigration enforcement and political activism on campuses.

A student who gained notable attention for his involvement in pro-Palestinian protests at Columbia University has been taken into custody by U.S. immigration authorities, according to his lawyer. Mahmoud Khalil, originally from Syria and currently a Palestinian refugee, was the lead negotiator for protesters who camped out at Columbia during significant demonstrations last year against U.S. support for Israel amidst the conflict in Gaza.

His lawyer, Amy Greer, reported that Khalil was apprehended in his university-owned residence on Saturday by officials from Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE). These protests at Columbia became a focal point for pro-Palestinian sentiments across other universities nationwide.

Greer stated that ICE agents informed Khalil that his student visa had been revoked; however, she asserts that he holds legal permanent residency with a green card and is married to an American citizen. Initially, it was communicated that he had been transferred to an ICE facility in Elizabeth, New Jersey. However, when his wife, who is eight months pregnant, attempted to visit him, she was told he was not at that location, leading to uncertainty regarding his current whereabouts.

While online records suggest that a Syrian-born individual named Mahmoud Khalil is being held at the Elizabeth Contract Detention Facility, his whereabouts remain unclear with rumors circulating about a potential transfer to Louisiana. Greer condemned the detention, describing it as a serious injustice, and articulated her concerns over the implications for Khalil’s rights as a legal resident.

During last summer’s protests, Khalil was at the forefront of discussions with university officials, leading negotiations while students erected a large encampment on campus. Although he did not participate in a subsequent occupation of an academic building that led to arrests, Khalil's activism had put him under scrutiny. He was later suspended temporarily by the university from his graduate program.

Khalil's detention also resonates with a broader context; it follows an executive order from former President Donald Trump that threatened deportation for those involved in protests deemed supportive of terrorist organizations. The environment on campuses was further complicated by allegations of antisemitism, with varying reactions from the Jewish student community at Columbia.

Recent actions by the Trump administration, including revocation of $400 million in federal grants to Columbia for allegedly not combating campus antisemitism, have added to the tensions surrounding the protests. Columbia's interim president acknowledged the impact of these fund cuts on university operations amidst ongoing international conflict, which has drastically affected both Israeli and Palestinian lives.