-Zaina Aman
DHS agents arrested Palestinian activist and Columbia graduate Mahmoud Khalil on March 8 at his university-owned residence. The arrest follows the State Department’s crackdown on students linked to pro-Palestine protests.
Khalil, who earned his master’s from Columbia’s School of International Affairs, led last year’s Gaza war protests. He negotiated between activists and university officials, drawing attention from pro-Israel groups calling for his deportation.
DHS agents, initially in plainclothes, forced entry into his apartment as he and his pregnant U.S. citizen wife unlocked the door. They refused to identify themselves until confirming Khalil’s identity. Witnesses say they detained him without explanation and threatened his wife with arrest.
DHS later informed her that his green card had been revoked, stripping him of legal status. He is now in ICE custody at 26 Federal Plaza, awaiting an immigration hearing.
His arrest aligns with “Catch and Revoke,” a DHS, DOJ, and State Department operation using AI to scan social media for pro-Palestine views and target individuals for deportation. Khalil is the first known arrest under this policy.
The case has sparked outrage among students, activists, and rights groups, who call it an attack on dissent under national security pretense. Columbia University reaffirmed its commitment to students’ rights and due process.
Legal experts warn that revoking a green card over political speech is unconstitutional. The ACLU called it an attempt to silence advocacy for Palestinian rights, condemning AI-driven surveillance for deportations.
As Khalil remains in custody, protests are planned nationwide. Supporters demand legal intervention, calling his arrest a First Amendment violation and a politically motivated crackdown.
