Mahmoud Khalil, a Palestinian-born Columbia University graduate, has pledged to continue his pro-Palestinian activism after being released on bail from U.S. immigration detention. Greeted by supporters and Representative Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez at Newark Liberty Airport, Khalil returned to New York a day after a federal judge ordered his release, denouncing the Trump administration’s effort to deport him as a violation of free speech.
Khalil, 30, became a lawful U.S. permanent resident last year but was arrested by ICE agents in March at his Columbia apartment. He is the first student targeted under a revived immigration law that the Trump administration claims justifies deporting international students whose political activism may contradict U.S. foreign policy interests. U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio cited this rarely used statute, claiming Khalil's activism threatens national interests.
Born in a Palestinian refugee camp in Syria, Khalil was a visible figure in the pro-Palestinian campus movement. He has repeatedly stated his activism is rooted in human rights advocacy, not antisemitism. “Even if they kill me, I will still speak up for Palestine,” he told reporters.
A U.S. district court ruled Khalil’s detention violated his First Amendment rights and ordered his release on bail. However, on the same day, a Louisiana immigration court issued a deportation order, now being appealed. Immigration courts fall under the Department of Justice, separate from federal judiciary oversight.
The Trump administration insists Khalil’s deportation is justified due to "conduct detrimental to U.S. foreign policy" and alleged inaccuracies on his residency application, which Khalil denies.
As legal battles continue, Khalil remains defiant, calling for justice and free expression in support of Palestine. His case has drawn national attention amid growing debates over student activism, immigration policy, and political speech in America.