Who is Mahmoud Khalil, The Pro-Hamas Protest Organizer Arrested by ICE?
Mahmoud Khalil, a former graduate student at Columbia University and a vocal agitator for anti-Israel causes, was detained by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) on Saturday. Khalil, who has been heavily involved in radical campus demonstrations, has openly aligned himself with Hamas sympathizers and played a leading role in disruptive anti-Israel activities at the university.
Khalil completed his master’s degree at Columbia’s School of International and Public Affairs in December but remained on campus to coordinate pro-Hamas demonstrations. He acted as a chief negotiator during student protests that sought to promote hostility against Israel, including organizing encampments and other aggressive tactics meant to intimidate Jewish students and faculty.
According to his lawyer, Amy Greer, ICE agents entered Khalil’s university housing without presenting a judicial warrant, claiming his student visa had been revoked. However, Greer insists that Khalil is a green card holder, not a visa holder. ICE officials stated that his permanent resident status was also under revocation due to his associations and activities that allegedly align with Hamas, a designated terrorist organization under U.S. law.
His wife, an American citizen who is reportedly eight months pregnant, was present during the arrest. This detail has been amplified by left-wing activists attempting to paint Khalil as a victim, despite the well-documented extremism he has engaged in.
The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) justified Khalil’s detention by citing evidence of his connections to Hamas-linked activities, though specific details have not yet been released. The Trump administration has recently intensified efforts to root out individuals with ties to terror-linked groups, revoking visas and green cards from foreign nationals who use their status in the U.S. to promote antisemitic and anti-American ideologies.
Unsurprisingly, far-left civil rights groups have rushed to Khalil’s defense, with the New York Civil Liberties Union condemning his arrest as an infringement on political speech. However, federal authorities maintain that associating with terror groups is not protected speech, and any foreign national engaged in such activities is subject to deportation.
Khalil’s arrest occurs amid heightened tensions between Columbia University and the Trump administration. Recently, the White House announced the withdrawal of approximately $400 million in federal funding from the university due to its failure to address rampant antisemitism on campus. Columbia, which has long been criticized for its tolerance of radical leftist ideology, is now attempting damage control in the wake of these financial penalties, insisting it is working to curb antisemitic incidents.
As of now, Khalil’s exact location remains unknown, with his lawyer claiming difficulties in locating him within the ICE detention system. Federal authorities have not commented on whether he will be deported or face further legal action. Jewish and pro-Israel groups have applauded his removal from campus, emphasizing the importance of maintaining a safe environment for Jewish students in the face of rising antisemitic agitation in academia.