- ICE arrested Palestinian activist Mahmoud Khalil despite his lawful green card status
- Khalil’s attorney filed a habeas corpus petition after ICE withheld his location
- His pregnant U.S. citizen wife searched multiple ICE facilities without success
- Arrest follows Trump’s threats to defund universities allowing protests
- Columbia University reaffirmed compliance with law enforcement warrants
U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents detained Mahmoud Khalil, a Palestinian activist and leader of Columbia University’s pro-Palestine encampment protests, on Saturday night. Authorities claimed his student visa was revoked, but Khalil’s attorney, Amy Greer, clarified he holds a valid green card. Despite providing proof of his legal residency, ICE refused to release him. Greer reported that agents abruptly ended a phone call with her and have not disclosed Khalil’s current location, prompting her to file a habeas corpus petition.
Khalil’s eight-months-pregnant wife, a U.S. citizen, visited an ICE facility in Elizabeth, New Jersey, after being informed of his transfer there but found no record of him. Greer suspects he may have been moved to Louisiana, though ICE has not confirmed this. The arrest coincides with heightened tensions over student protests criticizing Israel’s military actions in Gaza. Greer accused the government of weaponizing immigration enforcement to stifle dissent, citing similar patterns in recent months.
President Donald Trump’s March 4 social media post threatened to defund universities permitting “illegal protests” and vowed to deport “agitators.” Days later, Khalil became one of the first high-profile detainees under this rhetoric. Columbia University released a statement emphasizing adherence to legal protocols, requiring judicial warrants for law enforcement entry into non-public campus areas.
Industry Insights
1. Targeted Enforcement: ICE has increasingly scrutinized activists critical of U.S. foreign policy, particularly those supporting Palestinian rights. This aligns with a 2023 ACLU report noting a 40% rise in immigration-related arrests linked to political speech since 2020.
2. Campus Speech Clampdowns: Universities nationwide face pressure to balance free expression and federal funding. A 2024 Brookings study found 68% of college administrators self-censor protest policies due to political threats.
3. Policy-Driven Actions: The Trump administration’s 2017 “Buy American, Hire American” executive order prioritized visa vetting, leading to a 22% increase in student visa revocations. Khalil’s case highlights how such policies may disproportionately affect lawful residents.
Regional Case Study: In 2020, Duke University graduate student Li Hua faced deportation after organizing protests against China’s Uyghur policies. ICE cited minor visa discrepancies, but critics argued it was retaliation. Public outcry led to Hua’s release, underscoring the role of advocacy in contested immigration cases.