On Saturday, March 8th, U.S. immigration agents arrested Mahmoud Khalil, a Palestinian activist, as part of President Donald Trump’s efforts to crack down on pro-Palestinian demonstrations. The arrest comes amid growing tensions over campus protests, which the administration has linked to antisemitism.
According to the Student Workers of Columbia labor union, Khalil was taken into custody by Department of Homeland Security (DHS) agents at his university residence. Khalil, who earned his master’s degree from Columbia’s School of International and Public Affairs in December, is a U.S. permanent resident. His wife, a U.S. citizen, is eight months pregnant.
DHS said Khalil was arrested for “leading activities aligned to Hamas” but did not provide further details. U.S. law prohibits providing material support to designated terrorist organizations, including Hamas, but DHS did not specify whether Khalil is accused of violating that law.
Khalil, who has worked as a mediator between student protesters and university officials, has denied supporting Hamas. In an interview hours before his arrest, he told Reuters, “They basically silenced anyone supporting Palestine on campus and this was not enough. Clearly Trump is using the protesters as a scapegoat for his wider agenda fighting and attacking higher education and the Ivy League education system.”
His attorney, Amy Greer, condemned the arrest, stating, “ICE’s arrest and detention of Mahmoud follows the U.S. government’s open repression of student activism and political speech.” She added that his legal team has filed a habeas corpus petition and does not know where he is currently being held. His wife was initially told he was at an ICE facility in Elizabeth, New Jersey, but when she attempted to visit, officials said he was not there.
Columbia University, which has faced pressure over handling student protests, said it was “committed to the legal rights of our students” but declined to comment on Khalil’s case. The university has disciplined students and staff involved in pro-Palestinian demonstrations, suspending some after last year’s campus protests.
His detention follows the Trump administration’s announcement that it has canceled federal contracts and grants worth approximately $400 million to Columbia, citing concerns about antisemitic harassment.
Civil rights groups have condemned the arrest. Donna Lieberman, executive director of the New York Civil Liberties Union, called it “a frightening escalation” and “an aggressive abuse of immigration law.” Protesters fear Khalil’s case could set a precedent for deporting individuals based on their political views.
As of now, Khalil’s current location remains unknown.
