Federal immigration authorities have arrested Palestinian activist Mahmoud Khalil, a prominent leader in Columbia University’s student encampment protests, citing a State Department order to revoke his green card, according to his attorney.
Khalil was taken into custody Saturday night at his university-owned apartment near Columbia’s Manhattan campus. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents entered the building and detained him, his lawyer, Amy Greer, told The Associated Press.
According to Greer, an ICE agent stated over the phone that they were executing a State Department order to revoke Khalil’s student visa. When informed that Khalil had already graduated in December and was in the U.S. as a permanent resident with a green card, the agent replied that his green card was also being revoked.
Khalil’s arrest comes amid a broader crackdown on pro-Palestinian demonstrations, as President Donald Trump has vowed to deport foreign students and imprison those involved in protests against Israel’s war in Gaza.
The administration has specifically targeted Columbia University, announcing Friday that it would cut $400 million in federal grants and contracts, citing what it called the school’s failure to curb antisemitism on campus.
Authorities did not provide a reason for Khalil’s detention to his wife, who is eight months pregnant, according to Greer. He has since been transferred to an immigration detention facility in Elizabeth, New Jersey.
“We have not been able to get any more details about why he is being detained,” Greer told The Associated Press. “This is a clear escalation. The administration is following through on its threats.”
A Columbia University spokesperson stated that law enforcement agents must present a warrant before entering university property but declined to confirm whether one was issued for Khalil’s arrest.
Requests for comment from the State Department, the Department of Homeland Security, and ICE remain unanswered.
Khalil had emerged as a central figure in Columbia’s pro-Palestinian movement. When students established encampments on campus last spring, he was selected as a negotiator, frequently meeting with university administrators on behalf of protestors.
Speaking to The Associated Press in September, he affirmed the continuation of demonstrations: “As long as Columbia continues to invest and to benefit from Israeli apartheid, the students will continue to resist.”
His sudden arrest has raised concerns among activists and legal experts, who warn of a growing crackdown on political dissent in academic institutions.
AP
