Mahmoud Khalil

Who is Mahmoud Khalil? Background and Initial Involvement

Mahmoud Khalil, at the time of the 2024 Columbia University pro-Palestinian campus occupations, was a graduate student at the university’s School of International and Public Affairs (SIPA) . His background is marked by displacement and a deep personal connection to the Palestinian cause. Born in 1995 in a refugee camp in Damascus, Syria, to Palestinian refugees from Tiberias, Khalil experienced the realities of statelessness from a young age . This experience was compounded when he and his family were forced to flee to Lebanon in 2012 following the onset of the Syrian civil war, leading journalist Lauren Bohn to describe him as a “double refugee” . Despite these challenges, Khalil pursued his education, teaching himself English while working with Syrian refugees through the Syrian-American education nonprofit Junsoor . Simultaneously, he earned a bachelor’s degree in computer science from the Lebanese American University in Beirut . His commitment to international affairs is further evidenced by his years working for the British government’s Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office in Beirut, where he managed the Chevening Scholarship and supported diplomats with his language skills and local knowledge . In 2022, Khalil immigrated to the U.S. on a student visa to attend SIPA at Columbia University . He married a U.S. citizen, Noor Abdalla, in New York in 2023 after a seven-year long-distance relationship, and subsequently received a green card in 2024, granting him permanent residency . He completed his master’s degree in December 2024 and was due to graduate in May 2025 . Adding to his experience in international affairs, Khalil also interned for a United Nations relief agency that supports Palestinian refugees, UNRWA . This background suggests that Khalil’s activism was likely informed by his personal history, educational pursuits, and professional experiences in the realm of international aid and development. The fact that his permanent residency became a focal point during his arrest indicates a significant shift in the legal grounds for his detention .

Leading the Columbia University Protests

Following the start of the Gaza war in 2023, Mahmoud Khalil became actively involved in pro-Palestinian activism at Columbia University . He emerged as a key figure in the 2024 Columbia University pro-Palestinian campus occupations, serving as a negotiator for students associated with Columbia University Apartheid Divest (CUAD) during their interactions with university officials . His role as a negotiator positioned him as a central representative for the student movement, engaging directly with university administration to convey the protesters’ demands and perspectives. In a 2024 interview, Khalil articulated a nuanced view of the conflict, stating, “As a Palestinian student, I believe that the liberation of the Palestinian people and the Jewish people are intertwined and go hand by hand, and you cannot achieve one without the other” . He characterized the movement as one “for social justice and freedom and equality for everyone,” further emphasizing a vision of inclusivity . Addressing concerns about antisemitism, Khalil stated firmly, “There is, of course, no place for antisemitism. What we are witnessing is anti-Palestinian sentiment that’s taking different forms, and antisemitism, Islamophobia, racism [are] some of these forms” . This statement suggests an awareness of the sensitivities surrounding the issue and an attempt to distance the movement from antisemitic sentiments. Despite his active involvement, Khalil has stated that he was mindful of his student visa status, which required full-time enrollment, and consciously avoided activities he believed were “high risk” . He also communicated with the university to ensure his participation would not lead to trouble, indicating an intention to engage within certain boundaries . Interestingly, on April 30, 2024, Khalil received an email from Columbia suspending him for alleged participation in the Columbia tent encampments. However, the university retracted the suspension within a day after reviewing their evidence, with the university president’s office even calling him to apologize for the mistake . This incident suggests that the university may not have initially found sufficient grounds to penalize Khalil for his involvement in the protests, making the subsequent ICE arrest under the Trump administration’s crackdown all the more significant . Khalil’s prominent role as a negotiator likely made him a more visible target for authorities seeking to address the pro-Palestinian activism on campus.

The Arrest and Detention by ICE

The situation escalated on Saturday night, March 8, 2025, when Mahmoud Khalil was arrested by Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents at his home in Columbia University campus housing . Video footage of the arrest, taken by his eight-months-pregnant wife, Noor Abdalla, was later released by the ACLU, providing a glimpse into the tense moments of his apprehension . The video depicts apparent ICE agents confronting Khalil in the lobby of his building, informing him that he was “going to be under arrest” and ordering him to “stop resisting” . Khalil, seen standing with his hands behind his back, was then handcuffed. His wife can be heard protesting, stating, “He’s not resisting,” while Khalil attempted to reassure her, saying, “Baby, it’s fine” . As he was escorted out of the building, his wife was on the phone, seemingly speaking with Khalil’s attorney, Amy Greer, expressing her distress and uncertainty about what to do . Outside the building, when Abdalla asked the agents to identify themselves, one agent stated that Khalil was being taken into immigration custody at 26 Federal Plaza . Initially, Khalil’s attorney was informed that he was being held at an immigration detention facility in Elizabeth, New Jersey. However, when his wife attempted to visit the following day, she learned he was not there . It was later revealed that he had been transferred to a detention center in Louisiana . Notably, at the time of his arrest, Khalil had not been charged with any crime . His attorney reported that when informed Khalil was a permanent resident with a green card, the agent stated they were revoking that instead, after making a phone call . Khalil’s wife confirmed that no warrant was presented before he was handcuffed and taken away in an unmarked car . On Wednesday following his arrest, a judge ruled that Khalil would remain detained in Louisiana for the time being . The ACLU’s involvement and the release of the arrest video underscore concerns about the process and the potential violation of Khalil’s rights . The discrepancy between the initial mention of his student visa and the subsequent focus on revoking his green card raises questions about the legal basis for his detention . The fact that he was detained without any criminal charges highlights the use of immigration laws in this instance, prompting discussions about its implications for political activism and due process, particularly for non-citizens residing in the United States.

Legal Basis and Accusations

The arrest and detention of Mahmoud Khalil occurred amidst a backdrop of heightened scrutiny of pro-Palestinian activism on college campuses. The Trump administration has asserted that Khalil’s involvement in these anti-Israel protests provides legal grounds for his deportation . This stance is connected to a broader campaign by the administration to deport foreigners who participated in such demonstrations . The U.S. Justice Department has even launched an investigation into whether Columbia University concealed “illegal aliens” on its campus, signaling a wider crackdown on institutions perceived to be harboring individuals involved in these protests . Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanche explicitly linked these actions to President Trump’s “mission to end antisemitism in this country,” suggesting a direct connection between the pro-Palestinian activism and concerns about anti-Jewish sentiment . A spokesperson for the Department of Homeland Security, Tricia McLaughlin, further alleged that Khalil “led activities aligned to Hamas, a designated terrorist organization,” a claim that Khalil’s attorney has vehemently denied . The government’s legal argument for Khalil’s detention reportedly relies on a specific section of the Immigration and Nationality Act. This provision allows for the removal of a permanent resident if the Secretary of State deems their presence in the U.S. to be incompatible with the country’s foreign policy . This invocation of foreign policy concerns to justify the detention of a green card holder engaged in domestic protest is a significant point of contention. Legal challenges have been mounted against Khalil’s detention, and a U.S. District Judge temporarily halted the deportation attempt to allow for judicial review of its constitutionality . This legal intervention indicates that there are serious questions surrounding the legitimacy and legality of the government’s actions in this case. The accusations linking Khalil’s activism to Hamas, without any criminal charges being filed, further underscore the politically charged nature of this situation and its potential implications for the First Amendment rights of non-citizens.

Political Context

The arrest of Mahmoud Khalil is widely viewed as the first publicly known instance of the Trump administration fulfilling its promise to crack down on students who participated in protests against the war in Gaza that swept across college campuses in the previous year . The administration has taken the position that individuals involved in these protests have forfeited their right to remain in the country by allegedly supporting Hamas . Khalil’s attorney, Amy Greer, described the arrest as a “clear escalation” and stated that the administration was “following through on its threats” . Both Greer and the ACLU have raised concerns about the implications of this case for First Amendment rights, arguing that the government is attempting to silence a peaceful protester by stripping him of his legal residency and pursuing deportation . The Jewish Voice for Peace also issued a strong statement, denouncing the arrest as an action of a “fascist government” that targets political speech and activism in support of Palestinian freedom . This characterization highlights the deep divisions and intense political debate surrounding the Israeli-Palestinian conflict and its impact on domestic policies and civil liberties in the United States. The investigation into Columbia University for allegedly harboring “illegal aliens” further suggests a broader strategy to suppress pro-Palestinian activism within academic institutions . The temporary block on Khalil’s deportation by a federal judge indicates that the legal and constitutional questions surrounding his detention are significant and warrant careful judicial consideration . This case is being closely watched as it could potentially set a precedent for how the U.S. government treats non-citizen activists involved in political protests.