U.S. Judge Blocks Deportation of Mahmoud Khalil After ICE Arrest Over Pro-Palestinian Protests

A U.S. judge has extended an order blocking the deportation of Mahmoud Khalil, a 30-year-old Palestinian graduate student at Columbia University arrested by ICE over his involvement in pro-Palestinian protests on campus. The case, set for a hearing on Wednesday, has become a focal point of the Trump administration's pledge to deport some pro-Palestinian college activists. Secretary of State Marco Rubio defended the arrest, stating it was not about free speech but about Khalil's conduct and his right to be in the U.S. Rubio emphasized that no one has a right to a student visa or a green card, and that Khalil's visa could be denied if he had declared support for Hamas upon entry. Khalil, a Syrian national, is accused of supporting Hamas and organizing anti-Jewish activities. Khalil, who holds a green card and is married to a U.S. citizen, has not been charged with any crime and is currently detained in Louisiana. His arrest has sparked protests and legal challenges, with his lawyers arguing that it is retaliation against his protected speech. President Trump has described Khalil's arrest as the first of many to come.