Washington (Quds News Network)- The arrest of Mahmoud Khalil, a pro-Palestine activist and recent Columbia University graduate, by Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents for taking part in anti-genocide protests has sparked widespread outrage, with activists condemning the move as a dangerous escalation that threatens both the protection of pro-Palestine immigrants in the U.S. and freedom of speech.
Khalil’s Arrest
On Saturday, Khalil, who is a permanent resident of the US, was detained by the ICE agents when he arrived at his home at a student resident facility with his pregnant wife.
As he was being detained, he was told that his student visa was being revoked. Khalil’s wife showed the agents his green card to prove that her husband, who graduated from a master’s programme in December, was not on a visa, but an agent replied that the green card would then be revoked.
Khalil played a key role in pro-Palestine and anti-genocide demonstrations on campus. He acted as a negotiator with university officials during protests for Palestine in the spring of 2024.
For more than 24 hours, Khalil’s location remained unknown. ICE later confirmed his transfer to a Louisiana facility. The Trump administration has not clarified whether Khalil’s green card status legally allows his deportation.
U.S. District Judge Jesse Furman has blocked the deportation of Khalil. The decision delays his removal while legal arguments continue. The fedral judge issued the ruling and scheduled a hearing for March 12.
New York Attorney General Letitia James expressed concern, saying her office was monitoring the case. Khalil’s lawyer, Amy Greer, vowed to challenge his detention, calling it “a calculated and unjust act.”
Emails leaked by Zeteo show Khalil sought protection from Columbia University before his arrest. He warned school officials about a doxxing campaign against him. He reported threats and feared for his safety. His messages also raised concerns about discrimination, after his university ID was suddenly deactivated.
The Trump Administration
The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) said in a social media post it had arrested Khalil because he has “led activities aligned to Hamas”, without elaborating further.
On March 9, 2025, in support of President Trump’s executive orders prohibiting anti-Semitism, and in coordination with the Department of State, U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement arrested Mahmoud Khalil, a former Columbia University graduate student. Khalil led activities…
— Homeland Security (@DHSgov) March 10, 2025
Khalil’s arrest comes shortly after the State Department announced its plans to use AI to revoke the visas of foreign students who are deemed “pro-Hamas”.
It also comes days after the New York Police Department was seen dragging students out of a sit-in at Columbia’s Barnard College, where students were protesting against the expulsion of three students for protests and disruptions in 2024.
Hours later, Secretary of State Marco Rubio wrote on X that the US would “be revoking the visas and/or green cards of Hamas supporters in America so they can be deported”.
Neither Rubio nor the DHS provided any details as to how Khalil’s activism at Columbia University, where he had openly played the role of a student negotiator with administrators, amounted to supporting Hamas.
On Monday, in a post on Truth Social, Trump described the arrest of Khalil as “the first arrest of many to come”.
“We know there are more students at Columbia and other Universities across the Country who have engaged in pro-terrorist, anti-Semitic, anti-American activity, and the Trump Administration will not tolerate it,” Trump said.
Trump also revoked $400 million in federal grants to Columbia University, citing its failure to address ‘antisemitism’.
Sparking Outrage
The response from the university community and activist groups has been swift, with social media users and Democrats alike expressing their outrage.
An Action Network petition was released shortly after news of his detention, and it received over a million signatures in just one day.
Congresswomen Rashida Tlaib and Ilhan Omar have called for Khalil’s release.
Utterly outrageous. This is un-American. The forced disappearance of Mahmoud Khalil for nothing more than constitutionally protected speech is a clear assault on first amendment rights and a blatant act of authoritarianism. Khalil must be released,” said Omar.
Free Mahmoud Khalil. This is straight out of the fascist playbook. Criminalizing dissent is an assault on our First Amendment and freedom of speech. Revoking someone’s green card for expressing their political opinion is illegal. Protesting genocide is not a crime. https://t.co/fZDGfWSM2T
— Congresswoman Rashida Tlaib (@RepRashida) March 10, 2025
“Mahmoud Khalil is a kind, tireless advocate for justice,” one student wrote on X. “The best person to have during a crisis. I will never forget freaking out when Columbia threatened the national guard on us during the encampment. Mahmoud was the voice of reason. His kidnapping is heartbreaking.”
Another student also posted that Khalil was a grounding presence during campus protests.
“As a jewish student at Columbia I can say without a single doubt in my mind that Mahmoud is one of the kindest, safest, most welcoming people I have ever encountered at this university. His presence brought an instant calm no matter how intense things were.”
Mahmoud Khalil isn’t an illegal alien.
He isn’t a terrorist.
He’s a Columbia graduate student and a legal U.S. resident. He's a husband. And his wife, a US Citizen—8 months pregnant—has no idea where he is.
The Department of Homeland Security snatched him off campus,… pic.twitter.com/ESDaPDNckQ
— Joshua Reed Eakle 🗽 (@JoshEakle) March 10, 2025
Mahmoud Khalil is Trump’s first political prisoner. They charged him with the “crime” of being antisemitic. There is no such crime. In America, you’re allowed to think or say anything you like. And they have no evidence he was antisemitic. He was arrested for criticizing Israel.
— Cenk Uygur (@cenkuygur) March 10, 2025
Mahmoud Khalil protested the US Govt for financing the murder of his people.
Abducting him in the night, taking him away from his pregnant wife, and refusing to share his location is an attack on free speech and blatant fascism.
— Jabari Brisport (@JabariBrisport) March 10, 2025
New York Civil Liberties Union (NYCLU) issued a statement on Sunday, saying the “unlawful detention of Mr Khalil reeks of McCarthyism.”
“Ripping a student from their home, challenging their immigration status, and detaining them solely based on political viewpoint will chill student speech and advocacy across campus. Political speech should never be a basis of punishment, or lead to deportation.”
The National Students for Justice in Palestine (NSJP) also issued a statement calling upon students and faculty to participate in a day of action on Tuesday.
“Our message to every university in this country is clear: succumbing to federal pressure by repressing your students will not save you.”
Jewish Voice for Peace described the arrest and detention of Khalil as “outrageous and blatantly unconstitutional and straight from a well-worn authoritarian playbook”.
Khalil’s wife, who was not named, reportedly said in a statement from his defense counsel Monday night that she is pregnant and urgently wants his freedom so he can be present at the birth.
“I urge you to see Mahmoud through my eyes as a loving husband and the future father to our baby,” she said. “I need your help to bring Mahmoud home, so he is here beside me, holding my hand in the delivery room as we welcome our first child into this world.”