The incident surrounding the arrest and looming expulsion of Khalil is considered a pivotal move by the Trump administration—posing not just a challenge to the system, but for us to question the extent of our resilience. As a protagonist in the Columbia University demonstrations against the oppression in Gaza, Mahmoud Khalil came under media spotlight on April 29, 2024.
Backtracking to the night of March 8, Mahmoud Khalil who had recently received his diploma from Columbia University, and his wife returned to the sanctuary of their apartment. Unknowingly, they were followed into their secure abode by two unidentified men.
These men without any prior intimation informed Khalil of the annulment of his visa. Their intentions were clear, they were planning to deport the unsuspecting man. Khalil was warned that any resistance from his wife, who was on the cusp of motherhood and also an American citizen, would land her in police custody.
When Khalil asked for legal proof, the men showed him an image of a document on their mobile device, a method that significantly deviates from the standard procedure of presenting warrants. Khalil, of Palestinian origin, had previously played a key role in Columbia University’s camp protest against the atrocities in Gaza.
Khalil was instrumental in the protest, often acting as the mouthpiece in discussions with the institution. Alongside this activism, he successfully acquired his permanent residency in the United States, a factor that appeared to surprise the intruders, who were later revealed to be plainclothes operatives from the Department of Homeland Security.
Despite acknowledging his permanent residency, one of them placed a phone call after which Khalil was informed of the cancellation of his green card. By this time, Khalil had managed to get his legal representative on a call who reiterated the requirement for a legitimate, paper warrant, adhering to the due process of law.
However, their pleas fell on deaf ears. The officers disconnected the call, forcefully apprehended Khalil, and took him into custody at an ICE holding facility in New York City. This wasn’t to be his final destination, he was subsequently moved to an undisclosed location, eluding both his wife and legal aid.
For the entirety of the following Sunday, Khalil’s exact location was shrouded in mystery. His loved ones lost track of him, he had effectively vanished into thin air. A breakthrough in the case only transpired the day after when Khalil was traced to a privately run ICE detention facility notorious for gross medical negligence and reported cases of physical and sexual persecution.
A harsh reality is beginning to crystallize: Khalil’s detainment isn’t an aberration, but a manifestation of his political beliefs. This insidious incident marks the first time in which the Trump administration has exercised their power to ‘disappear’ someone for politically motivated reasons.
The individual behind this incident wasn’t chosen at random, but rather under strategic consideration. Any defense for Khalil carries political ramifications which the administration believes neither Columbia University nor the Democrats are prepared to handle. This incident potentially paves the way for subsequent politically motivated disappearances.
The popular adage about the erosion of humanity, a phrase that has been drilled into our minds ceaselessly, couldn’t be more applicable. The deportation of green card holders can be justified under the guise of participating in and/or stimulating terrorism, a narrative which the Trump administration is already weaving to legitimize Khalil’s arrest.
Those of us who are spectators in this grand political theater have limited alternatives. We can reach out to our elected officials, asking them to condemn the unfair treatment of Khalil, and urge them to take necessary measures. Similarly, we can send appeals to Columbia University’s interim president, Katrina Armstrong, insisting that the institution take a stance against Khalil’s detainment.
So far, these wielders of power have chosen to stand aside and observe. If such inertia persists, it implies the imminent downfall of the inviolable rights that America once boasted. This scenario forecasts the advent of an era marked by relentless assaults on civil liberties.
What we are witnessing is the infancy of a turbulent and heartless second term under Trump. Since resuming office, Trump, with support from his confidante Elon Musk (or vice versa) displayed a determination to maintain their grasp on power and wealth, even at the cost of crushing fundamental freedoms.
Khalil’s journey from a significant voice of dissent to a pawn in the political chessboard serves as a chilling reminder. In this theater of the absurd, none of our freedoms are sacred, nothing is exempt from the altar of unchecked authority and financial hegemony.