Khalil: Immigration Detention is Kidnapping | Anti-Israel Activist
- Mahmoud Khalil, an activist involved in anti-Israel protests at Columbia University, is facing deportation proceedings.
- anti-israel activist Mahmoud Khalil told the New York Times that his immigration detention "felt like kidnapping." (Photo by Spencer Platt/Getty Images) (Photo by Spencer Platt/Getty Images)
- Secretary of State Marco Rubio issued a memo stating that Khalil's campus protests did not align with U.S.foreign policy interests, which factored into the judge's decision.
Mahmoud Khalil, the prominent anti-Israel activist, is battling deportation after his involvement in Columbia University protests, a situation that has quickly escalated. An immigration judge ruled for his removal from the U.S. after his arrest,sparking a meaningful legal and political debate. Secretary of State Marco RubioS memo, citing Khalil’s actions as misaligned with U.S. foreign policy, factored into this decision. The Department of Homeland Security further alleges that Khalil failed to disclose his past employment, adding another layer to the proceedings. Khalil denies the accusations of antisemitism, framing his activism as advocacy for Palestinian rights and an end to the conflict. His case highlights the complexities of free speech,immigration laws,and political expression on college campuses. Khalil views his detention as akin to “kidnapping.”
News Directory 3 is following this breaking story closely. Will Khalil’s defense prevail, and what implications will this case have for future activists? discover what’s next in this developing story.
Mahmoud Khalil, Anti-Israel Activist, Battles Deportation After Columbia Protests
Mahmoud Khalil, an activist involved in anti-Israel protests at Columbia University, is facing deportation proceedings. Khalil’s case gained attention after his March arrest on campus, which led to an immigration judge’s ruling that he could be removed from the United States.
anti-israel activist Mahmoud Khalil told the New York Times that his immigration detention “felt like kidnapping.” (Photo by Spencer Platt/Getty Images) (Photo by Spencer Platt/Getty Images)
Secretary of State Marco Rubio issued a memo stating that Khalil’s campus protests did not align with U.S.foreign policy interests, which factored into the judge’s decision. The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) also stated that Khalil allegedly failed to disclose his employment with the Syrian office in the British Embassy in Beirut when applying for permanent U.S. residency.
Khalil, speaking to the New York Times, denied that his anti-Israel protests were antisemitic. He stated, “I was not doing anything antisemitic. I was literally advocating for the right of my people…for an end of a genocide.” He also questioned whether advocating for tuition fees to not be invested in weapons manufacturers could be considered antisemitic.
He expressed surprise that his activism would be challenged, saying, “I came hear with a clear understanding of freedom of expression, even when it comes to Palestine. I never had any sort of concern that speaking up for Palestine would actually get me in jail.”
Former Columbia University graduate student Mahmoud Khalil poses after his release from federal immigration detention in Jena, La., Friday, June 20, 2025. (Kat Ramirez for Fox News Digital)
Rubio has defended the Trump administration’s actions, arguing that individuals seeking visas to the U.S. who engage in antisemitic activities risk having their visas denied or revoked.
Khalil responded to Rubio’s defense by saying,”it was very ironic. I literally laughed… What did I do that I’m a foreign policy threat to the United States? Did I, like, damage, the U.S.-Israeli relationship? Because it doesn’t appear so.”
Khalil told the New York Times that he believes justice in America is resolute by wealth, stating, “If you have money, there is rule of law… Otherwise you have to fight tooth and nail to get your due process and your rights.”