Mahmoud Khalil, student leader of Columbia protests, arrested

The U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) recently arrested Mahmoud Khalil, a Palestinian graduate student who played a significant role in last year's pro-Palestinian protests at Columbia University in New York. The Columbia University Student Workers union confirmed the news in a statement on Sunday.

The statement indicated that Khalil, a student at Columbia University's School of International and Public Affairs, was arrested in his university dormitory on Saturday. It is reported that Khalil's wife is a U.S. citizen, and he himself holds a permanent resident green card. As of Sunday, he remained in custody. Khalil's wife, through a student, stated that she was not available to comment on the matter at this time.

Khalil's lawyer, Amy Greer, revealed to the Associated Press that she spoke with an ICE agent during the arrest. The agent claimed that they were revoking Khalil's student visa under orders from the State Department. The lawyer informed the agent that Khalil held a green card and was a permanent resident of the United States, but the agent stated that they would also revoke his green card. Greer also stated that authorities refused to inform Khalil's eight-months-pregnant wife of the charges against him. Currently, Khalil has been transferred to an immigration detention center in Elizabeth, New Jersey.

Lawyer Greer stated, "We have not been able to obtain more details about the reasons for his detention. This is clearly an escalation, and the Trump administration is making good on its threats." This arrest appears to be one of the first known actions taken after the Trump administration promised to deport international students involved in anti-Israel war protests that swept university campuses last year. The Trump administration claims that these protesters have forfeited their right to remain in the United States by supporting Hamas, which is designated as a "terrorist organization" by the U.S.

It is understood that Khalil is an Algerian citizen of Palestinian descent. He has been one of the main negotiators for pro-Palestinian student protesters who set up tent encampments on Columbia University's lawns last year and occupied a teaching building for several hours in April, after which police entered the campus and arrested them. Khalil was not a member of the building occupation, but he served as a mediator between the Columbia University provost and the protesters. The protesting students demanded that Columbia University withdraw its investments in companies linked to Israel, implement a ceasefire, and end the war that has left nearly fifty thousand Palestinians dead and the Gaza Strip in ruins. The United States has provided most of the ammunition for this war.

Columbia University stated last year that it would consider expediting the processing of some of the students' demands through its investment committee. Human rights organizations have accused Israel of committing genocide in Gaza. Despite a ceasefire agreement reached since January 19, Israel has been preventing any aid from entering Gaza since March 1, which has drawn condemnation from human rights organizations and aid agencies.

The months of pro-Palestinian protests that swept across U.S. university campuses were triggered by Hamas's attack on Israel on October 7, 2023, followed by Israel's military offensive in Gaza. The Hamas attack resulted in at least 1,100 deaths and the abduction of approximately 240 people. Most of the hostages have been released as part of a ceasefire agreement. A new round of ceasefire negotiations is scheduled to resume on Monday in Doha, the capital of Qatar.

A spokesperson for Columbia University stated that the school is legally restricted from sharing information about individual students. The Department of Homeland Security and the State Department, which are responsible for visa matters, have not responded to inquiries from news organizations. It is currently unclear on what grounds ICE agents arrested Khalil. ICE is an agency within the U.S. Department of Homeland Security.

Hours before his arrest, Khalil stated in an interview with Reuters that he feared he was being targeted by the government for speaking to the media. The Trump administration announced on Friday that it had canceled approximately $400 million in government contracts and grants with Columbia University. The government stated that the funding cuts and the deportation of students were due to "anti-Semitic" harassment on and near Columbia University's Manhattan campus.

Before his arrest, Khalil said, "What more can Columbia do now to appease Congress or the government?" He pointed out that Columbia University had twice called in the police to arrest protesters and had disciplined, even suspended, many pro-Palestinian students and faculty members. "They've basically suppressed any pro-Palestinian voice on campus, but it's not enough. Clearly, Trump is using protesters as scapegoats to achieve his broader agenda of attacking higher education and the Ivy League education system."

In response to the funding cuts announced on Friday, Columbia University Interim President Katrina Armstrong stated that the school is committed to combating anti-Semitism and is "working with the federal government to address their legitimate concerns." Protesting students have denied allegations of anti-Semitism.

Maryam Alwan, a Palestinian-American senior at Columbia University who participated in protests with Khalil, said the Trump administration is dehumanizing Palestinians. "I am shocked for my good friend Mahmoud, who is a legal resident, and I am also shocked that this is just the beginning," she said.

U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio stated last week that international students who support Hamas risk having their visas revoked and being deported. Columbia University issued a revised protocol on Thursday outlining how students and faculty should handle ICE agents attempting to enter the private school's property.

The school stated that ICE agents without judicial warrants may be allowed to enter its private property in "emergency situations," but did not specify what constitutes an "emergency situation." The Columbia University Student Workers union stated in a statement: "By allowing ICE onto campus, Columbia University is capitulating to the Trump administration's attacks on universities nationwide and sacrificing international students to protect its finances." It is reported that Khalil resides in a university apartment building near Columbia University's main campus.