Former U.S. President Donald Trump issued a stern caution this Monday, indicating that the detention and potential expulsion of Palestinian activist Mahmoud Khalil, well-known for his role in leading demonstrations at Columbia University, was the beginning of a broader and planned action by his administration to curb campus demonstrations that opposed Israel and the Gaza conflict. Khalil, a legitimate resident within the U.S who last served as a postgraduate student at Columbia until the preceding December, found himself apprehended in New York by federal immigration officers this Saturday and later transferred to a Louisianan immigration detention facility.
Trump, through his social media engagement, registered his concern on the circumstances, pointing out the existence of more students not only within Columbia but also in other institutions nationwide who actively partake in activities he labeled as pro-terrorist, anti-Semitic, and anti-American. Reinforcing a sense of commitment, he promised to identify, capture, and deport these sympathizers of terror from the U.S., ensuring they never have the chance to return.
A federal judge located in New York, however, made a ruling on Monday to halt Khalil’s deportation process. The decision allowed the court the necessary time to consider a legal petition launched by Khalil’s legal representatives. They’ve set a hearing on this matter to take place on the forthcoming Wednesday.
This action against Khalil ignited widespread condemnation from civil rights organizations along with advocates of free speech who directed fingers at the administration, accusing them of abusing their immigration control power to muzzle criticism against Israel. It’s important to note, Khalil represents the maiden individual to be detained with a possibility of deportation according to Trump’s declared tightening measures on student demonstrations.
Though Khalil, 30 years old, had not faced any accusations related to his activism, Trump maintained that protesters contribute to undermining their rights for continued stay within the country due to their demonstrations, which he claimed extended support to Hamas – a Palestinian group notorious for their attack on Israel dated October 7, 2023. The U.S officially identifies Hamas as an entity of terror.
Leaders of the student community at Columbia – Khalil included – under the banner ‘Columbia University Apartheid Divest’ refuted allegations of antisemitism. They claim their alignment to a more extensive anti-war movement, inclusive of Jewish groups and students. This dismisses the notion that their fight is against a particular group or people.
On this same Monday, the U.S. Education Department released a warning to approximately 60 colleges inclusive of Harvard and Cornell. The warning stated that these institutions risked loss of federal funding if they fail to uphold civil rights laws against antisemitism. Additionally, there was emphasis on ensuring ‘uninterrupted access’ to campus facilities and education opportunities.
It’s public knowledge that the Trump administration already initiated $400 million funding withdrawal from Columbia. A faculty collection within Columbia raised their concerns on Monday regarding Khalil’s detention; they viewed it as a tool to suppress freedom of speech for students and staff who aren’t U.S citizens.
Khalil was born in Syria to Palestinian parents, and later made a move to U.S to further his studies at Columbia in 2022. He is married to a U.S. citizen, who currently is in the eighth month of her pregnancy.
Owing to his strong activism, Khalil gained significant visibility as a leading figure during widespread protests that took place at Columbia last year. He played a pivotal intermediator role on behalf of pro-Palestinian activists and Muslim students, placing him in direct communication with university authorities. This attention also brought him under the watchful radar of pro-Israel activists who have, in the recent past, agitated for Trump’s administration to deport him.
Retracing events back to Columbia University, Pearson Lund, a sophomore at the institution, was among individuals perturbed by the possible revocation of Khalil’s permanent resident status. This occurrence underscores the varying views and complex dynamics present within the institution regarding the unfolding matter.