Mahmoud Khalil, a former Columbia University graduate student, was arrested on March 8th by federal immigration officers for his role in the protests to Columbia’s administration during the school’s “Gaza Solidarity Encampment” last spring.
Khalil was born in Syria and is a legal permanent resident of the United States, whose arrest was related to President Trump’s attempt to lower the number of student demonstrators that he accuses as “un-American activity”.
Following Khali’s arrest, Trump took to social media and stated, ““We know there are more students at Columbia and other Universities across the Country who have engaged in pro-terrorist, anti-Semitic, anti-American activity,” Trump wrote. “We will find, apprehend, and deport these terrorist sympathizers from our country — never to return again.”
Khalil served as a negotiator for students associated with Columbia University Apartheid Divest (CUAD) in support of Palestine. He was arrested last week at his home, in the presence of his pregnant wife, an American citizen.
Khalil’s lawyer claims that he was exercising free speech rights to demonstrate in support of Gaza and against the US support for Israel.
