Trump Vows More Arrests After Palestinian Activist’s Detention \ Newslooks \ Washington DC \ Mary Sidiqi \ Evening Edition \ President Donald Trump confirmed that the arrest of Palestinian activist Mahmoud Khalil is the first of many as his administration targets campus protests against Israel. Khalil, a former Columbia University student, was detained by immigration authorities, sparking legal battles and free speech concerns. A federal judge temporarily blocked his deportation while the case proceeds.
Quick Looks
- Palestinian Activist Arrested: Former Columbia student Mahmoud Khalil detained by ICE in New York.
- Trump’s Warning: The president vows more arrests and deportations of student protesters.
- Legal Battle Begins: A federal judge temporarily blocks Khalil’s deportation.
- Outrage and Protests: Civil rights groups and activists condemn the move as political repression.
- University Crackdown: Columbia and 60 other schools warned of federal funding cuts.
- Background on Khalil: A lawful U.S. resident, married to an American, with no criminal charges.
- Disciplinary Investigation: Khalil faced Columbia University scrutiny over online speech.
- Ongoing Campus Tensions: Columbia protests and faculty express defiance against the administration.
Deep Look
President Donald Trump issued a stark warning on Monday, stating that the recent arrest of Mahmoud Khalil, a Palestinian activist and former Columbia University graduate student, was just the beginning of a broader crackdown on campus protests against Israel and the war in Gaza.
Khalil, a lawful U.S. resident, was taken into custody by Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) in New York on Saturday and quickly transferred to an immigration detention center in Louisiana. His case has become a flashpoint in an intensifying national debate over free speech, student activism, and immigration enforcement.
“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 in a social media post. “We will find, apprehend, and deport these terrorist sympathizers from our country — never to return again.”
However, Khalil’s legal team swiftly filed a challenge, prompting a federal judge in New York City to temporarily block his deportation while the court reviews the case. A hearing is scheduled for Wednesday, and the ruling could set a precedent for how aggressively the Trump administration can pursue student activists under immigration laws.
Federal Crackdown on Campus Protests
Khalil is the first known student activist to face detention and possible deportation under Trump’s newly declared campus crackdown. His arrest has fueled concerns that the administration is using immigration enforcement as a tool to suppress criticism of Israel’s military actions in Gaza.
Federal agents have reportedly begun targeting other international students involved in protests. On Friday evening, immigration authorities attempted to detain a second student at Columbia, but were denied entry to her apartment.
Meanwhile, the U.S. Department of Education issued warnings to 60 universities, including Harvard and Cornell, threatening cuts to federal funding if schools fail to combat antisemitism and ensure campus security. The Trump administration has already revoked $400 million in funding from Columbia University, escalating tensions between the White House and academia.
Who Is Mahmoud Khalil?
Khalil, 30, was born in Syria to Palestinian parents and came to the U.S. in 2022 to pursue a master’s degree at Columbia’s School of International and Public Affairs. He had previously earned a computer science degree from Lebanese American University in Beirut and worked at the British Embassy in Lebanon.
His activism gained prominence last year as one of the most visible figures in Columbia University Apartheid Divest (CUAD), a coalition demanding the school sever ties with Israeli-affiliated businesses. Khalil often acted as a mediator between student protesters and university officials, engaging with the press and school administration.
Despite accusations from Trump and his allies, Khalil has not been charged with any crime related to his activism. He insists his role in CUAD was not one of leadership, but rather as a spokesperson.
“They are alleging that I was the leader of CUAD or the social media person, which is very far from reality,” Khalil said in an interview.
However, CUAD and its affiliated groups have, at times, voiced support for leaders of Hamas and Hezbollah, both of which are designated terrorist organizations by the U.S.
Legal and Civil Rights Concerns
Khalil’s detention has drawn sharp criticism from civil rights groups, faculty members, and free speech advocates, who see his arrest as a politically motivated attack on student activism.
- The American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) has accused the Trump administration of weaponizing immigration law to silence dissent.
- Columbia University faculty members have denounced the arrest as an attack on academic freedom and free expression.
- A coalition of student groups has organized protests outside ICE facilities in New York, demanding Khalil’s release.
“The attack on Mahmoud Khalil is intended to make them quake in their boots, and to make all of us quake in our boots,” said Michael Thaddeus, a Columbia math professor. “Our message to Washington is that we are not silenced, we are not afraid, and we stand together, determined to defeat this ongoing assault on our fundamental rights.”
Khalil’s legal team argues that his detention is a retaliatory act against his pro-Palestinian advocacy, which is constitutionally protected speech. Typically, deporting a green card holder requires a serious criminal conviction, something Khalil does not have.
His lawyers are also emphasizing his family ties—he is married to an American citizen who is eight months pregnant, a factor that could complicate removal proceedings.
Escalating Campus Unrest
On Monday, hundreds of protesters gathered near an ICE field office in Manhattan, demanding Khalil’s release.
“By arresting Mahmoud, Trump thinks he can strip us of our rights and strip us of our commitment to our people,” said Ibtihal Malley, a New York University student. “To that we say: You are wrong.”
Columbia students continue to express concern about the broader implications of Khalil’s case.
“At what point does this process stop?” said Pearson Lund, a Columbia sophomore studying physics.
With Khalil’s hearing set for Wednesday, the outcome of his case could determine whether the Trump administration accelerates deportations of other student protesters—or if legal challenges slow the crackdown.
As the battle over student activism, free speech, and U.S. policy toward Israel intensifies, Khalil’s fate may become a defining moment in Trump’s second-term immigration and protest policies.
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