ICE Arrests Palestinian Student Protester at Columbia

*FILE – Student negotiator Mahmoud Khalil is on the Columbia University campus in New York at a pro-Palestinian protest encampment on April 29, 2024.*

In a significant escalation of the Trump administration’s crackdown on campus activism, U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents arrested Mahmoud Khalil, a Palestinian graduate student and prominent pro-Palestinian activist at Columbia University, on March 8, 2025.

Khalil, a lawful permanent resident with a green card, was detained at his university-owned apartment near Columbia’s Manhattan campus. ICE agents, acting on State Department orders, revoked his green card, alleging his involvement in activities aligned with Hamas, a designated terrorist organization.

Khalil’s lawyer, Amy Greer, expressed concerns over the arrest, highlighting that it occurred without a judicial warrant and questioning the political motivations behind the detention. Greer reported difficulties in locating Khalil post-arrest, with indications he may have been transferred to an immigration facility in New Jersey or possibly as far as Louisiana.

This arrest is part of a broader initiative by the Trump administration to target individuals it identifies as supporters of Hamas. Secretary of State Marco Rubio announced plans to revoke visas and green cards of such individuals to facilitate their deportation.

Khalil played a pivotal role in organizing pro-Palestinian protests at Columbia University, including the 2024 Gaza Solidarity Encampment, which called for the university’s divestment from Israel. These protests led to significant confrontations with university administration and law enforcement, resulting in mass arrests and heightened tensions on campus.

The Trump administration has also taken punitive measures against Columbia University, canceling $400 million in federal contracts over allegations of antisemitic harassment and the university’s purported failure to protect Jewish students.

Civil rights organizations have condemned Khalil’s detention, viewing it as an attack on free speech and a retaliatory action against his political stance. Critics argue that such measures set a concerning precedent for the treatment of campus activists and the suppression of dissenting voices.

Columbia University has not issued an official statement regarding Khalil’s arrest. The situation continues to develop, with legal proceedings anticipated as Khalil’s legal team challenges the revocation of his permanent residency and subsequent detention.