Culture Society, Identity and Belonging
A Palestinian activist is fighting deportation after being detained over his role in Gaza protests at Columbia University in New York.
Mahmoud Khalil, who has permanent resident status as a green card holder, was arrested in student housing on Saturday.
The Department of Homeland Security said “Khalil led activities aligned to Hamas, a designated terrorist organization”.
Officials have not accused Khalil of contacting or taking orders from Hamas, but his arrest follows an executive order signed by Trump directing the Justice Department to “investigate and punish anti-Jewish racism” in US colleges.
Khalil was spokesperson for a Columbia protest group that said it supported Palestinian “liberation by any means necessary, including armed resistance”.
Khalil and other student leaders have denied antisemitism.
Green card holders are protected by constitutional free speech and due process rights, but immigration laws give the federal government broad authority to seek deportation on terrorism grounds.
A judge temporarily blocked Khalil’s removal on Monday, with a hearing expected today.
