Palestinian activist, Columbia University graduate and permanent US resident Mahmoud Khalil was arrested by Department of Homeland Security (DHS) agents at his New York City home on Saturday. The Algerian-born Palestinian was detained by plainclothed Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) officers, who allegedly forced their way into his apartment and threatened his wife, who is eight months pregnant. His arrest, linked to President Donald Trump’s “Federal Task Force to Combat Antisemitism,” has sparked outrage from civil rights groups, who warn it signals a broader crackdown on pro-Palestinian activism.
Khalil was a leading organiser of the Gaza Solidarity Encampment at Columbia University, a student-led protest launched on 17 April 2024, calling for the university to sever ties with Israel. The movement, which spread to universities globally, was a response to Israel’s military campaign in Gaza, which has killed over 70,000 people since October 2023, according to estimates of the London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine.
On the day of his arrest, ICE officers confronted Khalil outside his Columbia-owned apartment, forcibly entered his home, and threatened his wife. Despite Khalil holding a valid green card, officers claimed his student visa and residency had been revoked. Khalil’s lawyer, Amy Greer, was abruptly cut off mid-call as he attempted to seek legal assistance. Khalil was later transferred to an ICE detention facility in Louisiana, nearly 2,000 kilometres from New York.
The US government has justified the arrest by alleging that Khalil had engaged in “pro-Hamas activities”. DHS spokesperson Tricia McLaughlin claimed the activist was involved in events “aligned with Hamas”, though no public evidence to this effect has been provided. Trump’s Federal Task Force also announced a $400 million federal funding cut to Columbia University in response to its students’ pro-Palestinian demonstrations.
Civil rights advocates and Columbia faculty members have condemned the arrest as an attack on free speech and political activism. Joseph Howley, a Jewish professor at Columbia, criticised the justifications of the administration, saying, “They don’t care about antisemitism or keeping Jews safe. All they care about is crushing dissent.”
Emails obtained by investigative outlet Zeteo show that Khalil feared a politically motivated arrest after being targeted in an online harassment campaign led by Columbia affiliates Shai Davidai and David Lederer. In a plea for protection, Khalil wrote:
“Since yesterday, I have been subjected to a vicious, coordinated and dehumanizing doxxing campaign led by Columbia affiliates Shai Davidai and David Lederer who, among others, have labeled me a security threat and called for my deportation… Their attacks have incited a wave of hate, including calls for my deportation and death threats. I have outlined the wider context below, yet Columbia has not provided any meaningful support or resources in response to this escalating threat… I haven’t been able to sleep, fearing that ICE or a dangerous individual might come to my home. I urgently need legal support, and I urge you to intervene and provide the necessary protections to prevent further harm.”
Mahmoud Khalil in emails obtained by Zeteo
The American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) and the New York Civil Liberties Union (NYCLU) have joined Khalil’s lawyer in contesting his detention. Legal experts argue that ICE violated due process by falsely revoking his residency and denying him access to legal counsel.
“We will see the Trump administration in court,” an ACLU representative said, warning that the case could set a dangerous precedent for political arrests in the United States.
President Donald Trump, meanwhile, has defended the arrest, vowing further action against pro-Palestinian activists. Writing on Truth Social, he stated:
“This is the first arrest of many to come. We know there are more students at Columbia and other Universities across the Country who have engaged in pro-terrorist, anti-Semitic, anti-American activity, and the Trump Administration will not tolerate it.”
Donald Trump, United States President, Truth Social
Demonstrations have broken out in multiple cities since Khalil’s arrest. In New York, over 1,000 protesters marched from Foley Square to Union Square, demanding his release. Columbia students have launched new sit-ins, calling for an end to ICE presence on university campuses.
As Khalil remains in ICE custody, his case is shaping into a litmus test for free speech and civil liberties under Trump’s second term. With legal battles looming, activists and civil rights groups vow to resist what they see as a dangerous erosion of democratic freedoms.
