- 98 protesters arrested for trespassing during a peaceful sit-in at Trump Tower
- Jewish advocacy groups demand ICE release Mahmoud Khalil, held as a 'national security threat'
- Federal lawsuit challenges Columbia University and Congress over student privacy rights
- Khalil's pregnant wife condemns detention: 'Mahmoud was ripped away for no reason'
Nearly 100 demonstrators from Jewish Voice for Peace flooded Trump Tower's lobby on March 13, 2025, wearing shirts declaring 'Not in Our Name' and waving banners supporting Palestinian rights. The protest, organized in response to ICE's detention of Columbia University activist Mahmoud Khalil, escalated when private security summoned NYPD officers. Authorities charged participants with trespassing and resisting arrest, marking the latest clash between protest groups and Trump administration policies.
Mahmoud Khalil, a legal permanent resident and prominent organizer of Gaza ceasefire protests at Columbia, was detained March 11 during what ICE described as a 'routine immigration check.' Despite having no criminal record, Khalil faces potential deportation under allegations of supporting Hamas – claims his attorney Baher Azmy calls 'baseless attempts to criminalize Palestinian advocacy.' The administration has yet to provide evidence linking Khalil to terrorist groups.
The protest's strategic execution revealed new tactics in activist mobilization. Participants entered the Midtown skyscraper in two waves, with initial groups concealing protest gear under civilian clothing before unfurling banners reading 'Jews Say Free Palestine.' This mirrors similar 'rapid response' strategies seen in recent climate protests, adapted here for urban civil disobedience. NYPD officials acknowledged familiarity with the group's methods but emphasized they only intervene when private property owners request assistance.
Legal experts highlight worrying precedents in Khalil's case. 'ICE is testing boundaries by detaining visa holders engaged in political speech,' said NYU law professor Elena Cohen, referencing a 2024 ruling that limited deportations for non-violent offenses. The Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR) has filed a federal lawsuit challenging the House Education Committee's demand for Columbia to disclose thousands of student records, arguing it enables 'targeted harassment of pro-Palestinian voices.'
Regional tensions compound the controversy. Khalil remains held at Louisiana's LaSalle ICE Processing Center, a facility criticized in a 2024 ACLU report for denying medical care to detainees. Advocates note that Louisiana's immigration detention rates surged 41% since 2023, reflecting broader Southern enforcement trends. Meanwhile, Khalil's eight-months-pregnant wife Amira told ABC News: 'Our nursery sits empty while ICE hides him 1,300 miles away. This cruelty is the real national security threat.'
The Trump administration's stance draws parallels to post-9/11 surveillance programs, with added scrutiny on university activism. Columbia President Minouche Shafik faces mounting pressure after cooperating with congressional investigators, sparking faculty resolutions condemning the 'weaponization of academic records.' As free speech debates intensify, the Khalil case emerges as a litmus test for balancing security concerns with First Amendment protections in polarized times.
