Mahmoud Khalil, a Palestinian activist and former graduate student at Columbia University, can now travel freely within the United States after a federal judge lifted his travel restrictions. Khalil was among the dozens taken into custody by Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) March 8 in a coordinated operation targeting student and activist movements. In the weeks following his arrest, he endured the trauma of losing his immigration status.
Khalil, a legal permanent resident, was held in a Louisiana immigration prison until his release this past June. His arrest came at a time when activists and student protesters were coming under greater national scrutiny. This was manifest, particularly for anyone participating in pro-Palestinian advocacy. To the Trump administration, Khalil’s continued presence in the U.S. poses an unreasonable risk to national security. They point to purported discrepancies in his green card application, including his employment history and organizational membership.
Prior to the recent ruling, Khalil was under harsh travel restrictions. He was limited to traveling only between New York, New Jersey, Washington D.C., Louisiana and Michigan. He was required to pre-notify ICE of any travel. This requirement severely restricted his ability to attend events that were critical for his activism.
Today’s ruling by the federal judge clears Khalil to continue attending rallies and speaking at events across the country. He is set free from the self-sabotaging political geography that haunted him in the past. Alina Das, Khalil’s attorney, stressed how critical this ruling is to the protection of his First Amendment rights.
“He wants to travel for the very significant First Amendment reasons that are at the bottom of this case.” – Alina Das
ICE’s representative, Aniello DeSimone, expressed skepticism regarding Khalil’s need for unrestricted travel.
“He has not provided enough of a reason why he couldn’t attend these and other events telephonically.” – Aniello DeSimone
Khalil’s case is representative of the broader tensions on the ground between immigration enforcement and activism in the prevailing political climate. One of the most vocal advocates for Palestinian rights, he has been involved in thousands of protests, including walk outs on campus at Columbia University.