Day 48

Deportation Proceedings Against Mahmoud Khalil for Pro-Palestine Protest Activity

ICE agents arrested Mahmoud Khalil, a lawful permanent resident and Columbia University graduate student, in the lobby of his Columbia-owned apartment building over his role as a lead negotiator in the Gaza Solidarity Encampment. An immigration judge found him deportable based on Secretary Rubio's assertion that his 'continued presence posed adverse foreign policy consequences' -- a rarely used ground that a federal court later found was applied under an unconstitutional policy of deporting noncitizens for pro-Palestinian speech.

Political Prisoners: Detention of Campus Activists for Pro-Palestinian Speech

The Trump administration detained and sought to deport multiple noncitizen campus activists and scholars for pro-Palestinian speech, revoking an estimated 300 student visas. Key cases include Mahmoud Khalil, Badar Khan Suri, Rumeysa Ozturk, Mohsen Mahdawi, and Mohammed Hoque — all arrested based on their protest involvement or writings, with internal DHS documents confirming 'no alternative grounds for removability' existed.

ICE arrests Mahmoud Khalil at Columbia

ICE agents arrest Columbia graduate student Mahmoud Khalil — a lawful permanent resident married to a US citizen — in the lobby of his Columbia-owned apartment building over his role in Gaza solidarity protests.

From: Mass Student Visa Revocations Targeting Pro-Palestine Protesters