By Billal Rahman
Immigration Reporter
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A petition demanding the immediate release of Palestinian student activist Mahmoud Khalil has garnered nearly 800,000 signatures after his detention by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents on Saturday.
Khalil, who completed his graduate studies at Columbia University and played a key role in last year's campus protests, is currently being held in detention by ICE.
"Columbia University, which recently published a new protocol on its plans to cooperate with ICE, has targeted Khalil for his Palestinian identity and outspoken activism on multiple occasions over the last 17 months," the petition reads.
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"We will vigorously be pursuing Mahmoud's rights in court, and will continue our efforts to right this terrible and inexcusable – and calculated – wrong committed against him," Khalil's attorney Amy E. Greer told Newsweek in a statement.
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Newsweek has contacted ICE for further comment via email.
Why It Matters
President Donald Trump has criticized Columbia University for its handling of last year's student protests, where pro-Palestinian and pro-Israel groups clashed over the Gaza conflict. On Friday, the Trump administration pulled $400 million in federal funding from the university, accusing it of not addressing campus antisemitism.
Trump also signed an executive order targeting antisemitism, specifically condemning protests following Hamas' October 7, 2023, attack on Israel. On Truth Social, Trump warned schools allowing "illegal" protests would face severe penalties, including deportation of students.
What to Know
At about 8:30 p.m. on Saturday, plainclothes officers reportedly approached Mahmoud Khalil and his wife, who is eight months pregnant and a U.S. citizen, at their home in a university-owned building.
The agents informed the couple that the State Department had revoked Khalil's student visa, which they cited as the reason for his detention. Khalil, a green card holder and lawful permanent resident, was reportedly told by officers that his permanent resident status was also being revoked. His lawyer confirmed the exchange to Newsweek.
A State Department spokesperson refused to confirm the revocation of Khalil's green card, saying: "Visa records are confidential under U.S. law. Therefore, we cannot comment on individual visa cases."
According to ICE's inmate locator website, Khalil is in LaSalle Detention Center in Louisiana.
Pro-Palestine protesters are outraged over his arrest, while some pro-Israel supporters have praised the apprehension.
Khalil completed his graduate studies at Columbia University's School of International and Public Affairs (SIPA) in December 2024. Before attending Columbia, he earned a Bachelor of Science in computer science from the Lebanese American University, as noted by the Society for International Development (SID).
According to SID, Khalil has also worked for the Syria Office at the British embassy in Beirut and for Jusoor, a Syrian-American nonprofit focused on education.
During his time at Columbia, Khalil was involved in campus activism, serving as a negotiator between pro-Palestinian protesters and the university administration regarding tent encampments. He was also a member of the Columbia University Apartheid Divest group.
In an interview with the Associated Press last week, Khalil stated he faced "around 13 allegations," many related to social media posts he claimed no involvement in. These allegations, stemming from Columbia's newly established Office of Institutional Equity, accuse him of organizing events linked to support for Palestinians. One of the allegations specifically involves accusations of promoting Hamas' October 7 attack.
Meanwhile, Secretary of State Marco Rubio is launching an AI-driven "Catch and Revoke" initiative to cancel the visas of foreign nationals suspected of supporting Hamas or other designated terrorist organizations, according to senior State Department officials who spoke with Axios.
What People Are Saying
Greer said in a statement: "Last night ICE agents wrongfully arrested Mahmoud Khalil, claiming his student visa was revoked – even though Mahmoud is legal permanent resident (green card) and not in the U.S. on a student visa. Confronted with that fact, the ICE agents detained him anyway. Overnight we filed a habeas corpus petition on Mahmoud's behalf challenging the validity of his arrest and detention. Currently, we do not know Mahmoud's precise whereabouts. Initially, we were informed this morning that he had been transferred to an ICE facility in Elizabeth, New Jersey. However, when his wife – a U.S. citizen who is eight months' pregnant and was threatened with arrest as well by the ICE agents last night – tried to visit him there today, she was told he is not detained there. We have subsequently received reports that Mahmoud may be transferred as far away as Louisiana.
"ICE's arrest and detention of Mahmoud follows the U.S. government's open repression of student activism and political speech, specifically targeting students at Columbia University for criticism of Israel's assault on Gaza. The U.S. government has made clear that they will use immigration enforcement as a tool to suppress that speech. Many individuals and organizations have expressed support for Mahmoud and outrage at the government's conduct, and have offered their assistance in the legal proceedings. Mahmoud greatly appreciates all of that support, as do we."
Columbia University said in a statement on Sunday: "There have been reports of ICE around campus. Columbia has and will continue to follow the law. Consistent with our longstanding practice and the practice of cities and institutions throughout the country, law enforcement must have a judicial warrant to enter non-public University areas, including University buildings. Columbia is committed to complying with all legal obligations and supporting our student body and campus community."
The Stop Antisemitism advocacy group celebrated his arrest in an X post on Sunday: "Update out of Columbia - pro Palestinian riot leader Mahmoud Khalil was arrested & detained yesterday by DHS (Department of Homeland Security). The U.S. Dept of State has now revoked Mahmoud Khalil's immigration status due to his participation in mob riots at Columbia. He is now thankfully facing deportation. May this be the first of many!"
Bend the Arc: Jewish Action said in a post on X: "Columbia student and New Yorker, Mahmoud Khalil - who was targeted and detained for constitutionally protected speech - should be home with his 8 months pregnant wife today. Not missing in ICE detention, unreachable by his lawyers.
"The White House's authoritarian actions are being falsely done in our name as Jews, by a President and politicians who actively use antisemitism and do not speak for Jews."
X user @bing_guan said: "As a @Columbia faculty member, I am disgusted and appalled by the university collaborating with the Department of Homeland Security & ICE to detain CU grad and Palestinian activist Mahmoud Khalil. He is a legal US resident with a wife who is 8 months pregnant. Despicable conduct
The Anti-Defamation League (ADL) said in post on X: "We firmly believe there should be swift and severe consequences for those who provide material support to foreign terrorist organizations, incite violence in support of terrorist activities, or conceal their identities in order to harass and intimidate Jewish individuals and institutions with impunity.
"We appreciate the Trump administration's broad, bold set of efforts to counter campus antisemitism — and this action further illustrates that resolve by holding alleged perpetrators responsible for their actions.
"Obviously, any deportation action or revocation of a Green Card or visa must be undertaken in alignment with required due process protections. We also hope that this action serves as a deterrent to others who might consider breaking the law on college campuses or anywhere.
Marco Rubio said in a post on X: "Those who support designated terrorist organizations, including Hamas, threaten our national security. The United States has zero tolerance for foreign visitors who support terrorists. Violators of U.S. law — including international students — face visa denial or revocation, and deportation."
What Happens Next
Under Trump's hard-line immigration crackdown, more pro-Palestine protesters could be deported, while in Khalil's case, there could be further legal action to try to prevent his deportation.
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