Trump Praises Arrest of Anti-Genocide Activist Mahmoud Khalil, Promises More Arrests
Washington (Quds News Network)- US President Trump praised the arrest of Mahmoud Khalil, a pro-Palestinian and anti-genocide activist and Columbia University alumnus and promised of more arrests to silence the peaceful protesters. He called the arrest the first of “many to come.”
Trump wrote on Truth Social and labeled Khalil a “Radical Foreign Pro-Hamas Student.” He vowed to find, apprehend, and deport student protesters, whom he called ‘terrorist sympathizers’, from the United States.
Mahmoud Khalil attended Columbia University on a student visa. He played a visible role during the pro-Palestinian encampment last spring. Khalil gave several interviews and negotiated with university leaders over protesters’ demands. He faced ‘misconduct’ charges from Columbia before his December graduation over fabricated social media posts.
ICE agents told Khalil that his student visa was revoked. Attorney Amy Greer explained that Khalil is a legal permanent resident. ICE records show that authorities now hold Khalil at the Jena/LaSalle Detention Facility in Jena, Louisiana. His 8-month-pregnant wife received little information about his location.
Trump called anti-genocide and pro-Palestine protests at Columbia and other universities pro-terrorist, anti-Semitic, and anti-American activities. He accused many of being paid agitators rather than genuine students.
Khalil’s arrest violates free speech rights. Kica Matos, president of the National Immigration Law Center, called for his immediate release. The Trump administration now plans to revoke student visas for those it labels as “Hamas sympathizers.” Officials will use AI to review student visa holders’ social media accounts. Trump also threatened to cut federal funding for schools that allow anti-genocide protests. Secretary of State Marco Rubio said the U.S. has zero tolerance for ‘foreign visitors who support terrorists’.
