Federal immigration authorities arrested Mahmoud Khalil, a permanent U.S. resident and recent Columbia University graduate, over the weekend. Khalil, who grew up in a Palestinian refugee camp in Syria, was taken into custody following a state department order to revoke his green card. This arrest ignited a wave of criticism from free speech organizations and First Amendment advocates, who described it as an "egregious violation of the first amendment" and a "frightening weaponization of immigration law."
President Donald Trump addressed the arrest, declaring it the "first arrest of many to come." Trump alleged that similar activists on college campuses are not genuine students but "paid agitators," although he provided no evidence for these claims. He stated that U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) enforced his executive order, leading to Khalil's detention.
"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." – Donald Trump
Khalil's arrest took place on Saturday night in his university-owned apartment building near Columbia's main campus in New York. His wife reported difficulty locating him at an immigration detention facility in New Jersey, only to later find him listed as being held at the La Salle detention facility in Louisiana. This development has raised concerns about transparency and due process.
Free speech advocates have rallied against the arrest, arguing it contravenes constitutional protections. A judge has scheduled a hearing for Wednesday in Manhattan federal court to assess Khalil's challenge to his detention.
Khalil had appealed to Columbia University for protection just one day before ICE agents entered his apartment. He cited a "dehumanizing doxxing campaign" led by individuals affiliated with Columbia as a reason for his request.
In response to claims about ICE's presence on campus, a statement from Armstrong, a member of Columbia leadership, clarified the situation.
"Rumors suggesting that any member of Columbia leadership requested the presence of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents on or near campus are false." – Armstrong
Khalil served as a lead negotiator for the Gaza solidarity encampment at Columbia University last year, which may have contributed to his heightened profile. His attorney noted the timing of the arrest and its location near campus as troubling.