JENA, Louisiana — Columbia University graduate student and activist Mahmoud Khalil has been ruled eligible for deportation from the United States after an immigration judge determined that his presence in the country poses “potentially serious foreign policy consequences.” The ruling, handed down Friday by Immigration Judge Jamee E. Comans, marks a pivotal moment in the federal government’s increasing scrutiny of international students involved in pro-Palestinian protests.
The Department of Justice argued that Khalil, a legal U.S. resident, presents a national security threat based on his visible participation in campus protests against Israel’s military actions in Gaza. Though not accused of any crimes, his activism was cited by authorities as having potential to disrupt U.S. foreign relations. Judge Comans concurred, stating that the government had met the legal burden with “clear and convincing evidence” that Khalil is removable.
Khalil’s attorneys fiercely objected to the ruling, pledging to appeal the decision and seek a waiver that would allow him to remain in the country. For now, a federal judge in New Jersey has temporarily halted his deportation while the case proceeds through the courts.
The 30-year-old graduate student in international affairs was detained by federal immigration agents on March 8 in the lobby of his university-managed apartment. His arrest is believed to be the first under President Donald Trump’s revived immigration enforcement, targeting student activists allegedly linked to anti-Israel sentiments. Within 24 hours of his detention, Khalil was transferred to a detention facility in Jena, Louisiana, thousands of miles from his legal team and pregnant wife, a U.S. citizen expected to give birth imminently.
Attorneys representing Khalil argue that the Trump administration is exploiting immigration law to suppress constitutionally protected free speech. They have repeatedly emphasized that Khalil did not break any laws during the protests and has no ties to terrorist groups.
Secretary of State Marco Rubio invoked a seldom-used provision of immigration law, empowering the executive branch to deport noncitizens deemed threats to U.S. foreign policy. Khalil’s deportation, the administration contends, falls under this category due to the perceived pro-Hamas tone of the protests—despite the absence of any evidence tying Khalil to extremist organizations.
During Friday’s hearing, Khalil’s attorney Marc Van Der Hout criticized the deportation efforts as political and unfounded. “The government’s case has nothing to do with foreign policy and everything to do with suppressing dissent,” Van Der Hout argued.
Earlier in the week, Judge Comans had challenged federal prosecutors to provide concrete evidence linking Khalil’s actions to national security risks. She had warned she would dismiss the case if such evidence failed to materialize. Nevertheless, Friday’s decision leaned on the administration’s discretionary authority in immigration cases involving foreign policy concerns.
Meanwhile, federal judges in both New York and New Jersey have issued temporary orders blocking Khalil’s removal, granting his legal team more time to contest the deportation.
The controversy has reignited debate about free speech on campus and the growing politicization of immigration enforcement. The Trump administration has already moved to strip $400 million in federal research funding from Columbia University, claiming the institution has failed to curb antisemitism.
While Khalil was not part of the small group that took over a university administration building, his prominent role as a spokesperson for the encampment protests and his public visibility have made him a target for criticism. The White House accused him of “siding with terrorists”, though no formal charges or substantiated evidence have been presented.
The U.S. government has escalated efforts to clamp down on other pro-Palestinian voices in academia. Recent actions have included the deportation of a Brown University professor accused of attending a Hezbollah funeral in Lebanon, and the revocation of student visas for several demonstrators on campuses nationwide.
As the legal fight over Khalil’s fate unfolds, advocates warn that the case could set a dangerous precedent for the use of immigration enforcement to silence political dissent in the U.S.
