Palestinian Student Protester at Columbia University Arrested by ICE

On March 8th, Mahmoud Khalil was arrested by immigration agents at Columbia University. Khalil played a prominent role in pro-Palestinian protests at the university. U.S. Department of Homeland Security agents arrived at his university residence on Saturday. [1]

Before Columbia University, Khalil grew up in a Palestinian refugee camp in Syria. He has also worked for the British embassy in Beirut. The Palestinian student is enrolled in Columbia’s Graduate Program within the School of International and Public Affairs. Khalil lives with his wife who is an American citizen and eight months pregnant. He is being held in the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement detention center in Louisiana. [2]

This is not Khalil’s first clash with law enforcement. He was one of the lead negotiators with school administrators on behalf of pro-Palestinian student protesters who set up tent encampments on Columbia lawns last year and seized control of an academic building. Khalil served as a mediator between Vice Provosts and the protestors for several hours before Columbia called police to arrest them. Khalil’s detainment is not the only reaction from the university regarding student protests, two students were expelled from Columbia after disrupting an Israeli professor’s class last spring. In response, anti-Israel protesters last week invaded a campus building at Barnard. The invasion resulted in an injured university employee and $30,000 in property damage. [3]

Khalil holds a U.S. Permanent Residency Green Card that is in the process of being revoked. The immigration authorities refused to tell his wife the reason for his detainment. Columbia claimed that law enforcement agents must produce a warrant before entering university property. There was no confirmation if a warrant was acquired before entering Khalil’s apartment. Khalil’s arrest serves as the execution of President Trump’s plan to deport foreign students involved in the pro-Palestinian protest movement, which he has labeled antisemitic.

The Palestinian and Israeli Conflict has prompted protests on college campuses from both sides of the issue. Last spring, there were about 3,000 protests across the country. With increased rules on campuses, there were about 950 protests in the fall semester. [4] Universities have implemented policies, such as locked campus gates and enforcing stricter punishments after the disruptions of pro-Palestinian demonstrations and encampments last spring. Schools, like American University, have restricted student protests to outdoor spaces so as to not disrupt any ongoing classes and university operations. The restrictions are intended to promote public safety, but students feel that they are a means of exerting control and curbing expression. Nevertheless, stricter rules have not diminished protests all together. However, Trump’s plan for immigration reform has disrupted protests and increased detainments across the nation.

Within his first few days in office, President Trump signed executive orders targeting any speech considered anti-semitic. His policies specifically affect international students involved in university pro-Palestinian protests. The U.S. The Justice Department mentioned plans to form a task force to fight antisemitism in schools and universities. The Department of Education also announced an investigation into universities for alleged antisemitic harassment. Israeli activists organizations, such as Moms Against College Antisemitism, believe Trump’s order is a long-awaited tool to help end antisemitism on college campuses. Arab-American groups have said they are prepared to challenge the policy through legal means. [5]

Secretary of State, Marco Rubio shared a comment on social media about his intention to revoke Khalil’s visa since he is a “Hamas supporter.” [6] Trump has also singled out Columbia for its handling of student protesters and canceled $400 million worth of grants delegated for the university. The administration claimed that budget cuts and the student deportation efforts are meant to address antisemitic harassment on college campuses.

Under Trump’s criticism, Columbia’s role in Khalil's arrest is complicated. The university is reluctant to release any statements, but has said they are committed to protecting the legal rights of their students. Columbia's interim President Katrina Armstrong said the school was committed to combating antisemitism and was "working with the federal government to address their legitimate concerns." [7] With an administration focused on comprehensive government reform in areas like immigration and education, universities have to balance their conduct with the risk of losing federal funding. 

Khalil’s arrest as an example of new immigration reform also has implications for student expression. The New York Civil Liberties Union said the detention of Khalil was unlawful, retaliatory, and an attack on free speech rights. Organizations and activist groups worry that this is a frightening escalation of Trump’s crackdown on pro-Palestine speech, and an aggressive abuse of immigration law. [8] By allowing ICE on campus, Columbia is surrendering to the Trump administration's assault on universities across the country.

The future of student protesting in the United States will need to adapt to increasing governmental scrutiny and institutional regulations. Recent events, such as the arrest of Mahmoud Khalil, highlight a trend toward intensified oversight on campus activism. Universities are also reevaluating their policies, balancing the protection of free speech with the enforcement of campus safety and compliance with federal directives. This dynamic environment may lead student activists to adopt more decentralized and digital methods of organization, utilizing social media platforms and encrypted communications to mobilize support. As traditional forms of protest face heightened challenges, the resilience of student movements will play a crucial role in shaping their future impact on societal and political discourse.

Sources:

1. US immigration Agents Arrest Palestinian Student Protester at Columbia University in Trump Crackdown, Reuters (March 10, 2025), https://www.reuters.com/world/us/us-authorities-arrest-palestinian-student-protester-columbia-university-students-2025-03-09/. 
2. Id. 
3. US Authorities Arrest Palestinian Columbia Student Who Led Anti-Israel Protests, Times of Israel (March 9, 2025), https://www.timesofisrael.com/us-authorities-arrest-palestinian-columbia-student-who-led-anti-israel-protests/. 
4. How Universities Cracked Down on Pro-Palestinian Activism, New York Times (November 25, 2024), https://www.nytimes.com/2024/11/25/us/university-crackdowns-protests-israel-hamas-war.html#. 
5. Trump Wants to Deport Some Foreign Students, Reuters (February 28, 2025), https://www.reuters.com/world/us/trump-wants-deport-some-foreign-students-these-activists-want-help-2025-02-28/.
6. Id.
7. Id. 
8. Id.