Trump Administration Moves to Deport Mahmoud Khalil for Alleged Hamas Support, Despite Federal Judge's Block

The Trump administration has initiated the deportation process for Mahmoud Khalil, a Syrian-born former Columbia University graduate student and pro-Palestinian activist, following his arrest by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE). Khalil, who was involved in anti-Israel protests at the university, has been accused by the administration of supporting Hamas, a designated terrorist organization. He is married to a U.S. citizen who is eight months pregnant. Secretary of State Marco Rubio has defended the arrest and potential deportation, stating that it is not about free speech but about individuals who do not have the right to be in the United States. Rubio emphasized that no one has a right to a student visa or a green card, and that the U.S. can deny visas to those who support Hamas or engage in activities that disrupt universities. Khalil attended the Columbia School of International and Public Affairs and Barnard College, where he negotiated the occupation of campus buildings and appeared in a video inside Barnard, distributing antisemitic propaganda with phrases like 'death to America.' He also cheered for the 'resistance' against Israel's incursion into Gaza following the Oct. 7th, 2023 attack by Hamas. White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt supported Rubio's stance, asserting that under the Immigration and Nationality Act, the Secretary of State has the authority to revoke visas or green cards for those adversarial to U.S. foreign policy and national security interests. Leavitt highlighted Khalil's involvement in organizing protests that disrupted campus activities and distributed pro-Hamas propaganda. Khalil co-founded CU Apartheid Divest, a group that declared its mission to fight for the 'total eradication of Western civilization.' Khalil's arrest has sparked protests in New York and Chicago, and criticism from Democrats and rights groups, who argue that it violates his constitutional rights. A federal judge has temporarily blocked Khalil's deportation under Section 237 (a)(4)(C) of the INA, a rarely used provision, and a hearing is scheduled for Wednesday to address the legal challenges. President Trump has vowed that Khalil's arrest is the first of many to come, targeting those engaged in what he describes as pro-terrorist, anti-Semitic, anti-American activity. The American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) has condemned the move as 'illegal and un-American,' while Jewish groups have mixed reactions, with the Anti-Defamation League hoping it serves as a deterrent to others while stressing the importance of due process protections. The U.S. Department of Education is investigating 60 colleges and universities for alleged antisemitic discrimination, and the Trump administration has cut funding to Columbia's cancer research, prompting criticism from Democrats.