On September 18, 2025, a U.S. immigration judge ordered the deportation of Mahmoud Khalil, a prominent pro-Palestinian activist and legal U.S. resident, in a ruling that has sent shockwaves through the American academic and activist communities. The case, which has drawn national and international scrutiny, centers on Khalil’s alleged misrepresentations during his green card application process and the broader political climate surrounding pro-Palestinian activism in the United States.
Khalil, 30, was born in Syria and holds Algerian citizenship. Of Palestinian origin, he became widely known during the 2024 Gaza war demonstrations at Columbia University, where he was enrolled as a graduate student. According to Reuters and France 24, Khalil’s activism placed him at the center of heated debates on free speech, campus protests, and U.S. policy toward Israel and Palestine.
The ruling, issued by Judge Jamee Comans in Louisiana, cited Khalil’s alleged failure to disclose key information on his green card application. Specifically, the judge accused Khalil of not revealing his affiliations with the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA) and his involvement with Columbia University Apartheid Divest (CUAD), a student organization that advocated for financial divestment from Israel and a ceasefire in Gaza. Judge Comans wrote, “This Court finds that Respondent willfully misrepresented material fact(s) for the sole purpose of circumventing the immigration process and reducing the likelihood his applications could be denied.”
Khalil’s legal team, supported by the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU), has vehemently denied any wrongdoing and announced plans to appeal the deportation order. They pointed to a federal district court order earlier in the year that bars the government from immediately detaining or deporting Khalil while his federal court case is ongoing. Khalil’s attorneys have 30 days from the September 12 ruling to file an appeal with the Board of Immigration Appeals, though, as they noted to Al Jazeera, noncitizens are “almost never” granted stays of removal during such proceedings.
“It is no surprise that the Trump administration continues to retaliate against me for my exercise of free speech,” Khalil said in a statement released by the ACLU. He further charged, “When their first effort to deport me was set to fail, they resorted to fabricating baseless and ridiculous allegations in a bid to silence me for speaking out and standing firmly with Palestine, demanding an end to the ongoing genocide [in Gaza].” Khalil went so far as to accuse the Trump administration of using “fascist tactics” in its efforts to deport him, as reported by Al Jazeera.
Khalil’s arrest by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents occurred on March 8, 2025, at his student apartment at Columbia University. The action was part of what Al Jazeera described as a “wider crackdown on pro-Palestine activism on college campuses across the US,” a campaign that saw several overseas students detained and deported, and some universities penalized with federal funding cuts over alleged anti-Semitic activities.
Authorities alleged that Khalil failed to disclose his previous employment at the British Embassy in Beirut and his affiliations with UNRWA and CUAD on his immigration paperwork. These omissions, they argued, constituted a “lack of candor” and a willful attempt to circumvent U.S. immigration law. However, Khalil’s legal team, as well as supporters in the academic and activist communities, have characterized the government’s case as a politically motivated effort to suppress dissent.
During his three-month detention at a Louisiana immigration center, Khalil’s wife, a U.S. citizen, gave birth to their son—a personal ordeal that underscored the human cost of the legal battle. On June 20, 2025, U.S. District Judge Michael Farbiarz ruled that Khalil’s detention was unconstitutional and ordered his release, finding that he posed no flight risk or danger to the public. Judge Farbiarz also noted that the Trump administration’s efforts to deport Khalil likely violated his right to free speech, referencing a provision in the Immigration and Nationality Act of 1952 that allows for the removal of foreign nationals deemed to pose “potentially serious adverse foreign policy consequences for the United States.”
The White House, under former President Trump, has remained steadfast in its pursuit of Khalil’s removal. Trump has publicly claimed that pro-Palestinian activists like Khalil “back Hamas,” which the U.S. classifies as a terrorist organization, and described Khalil’s arrest as “the first of many to come.” Pro-Israel activists have also alleged that Khalil played a leading role in CUAD, though Khalil has denied being the leader. “My role was limited to serving as a spokesperson for the protesters and coordinating dialogue with the university,” he told the Associated Press.
Khalil’s supporters argue that his case exemplifies a broader pattern of government retaliation against pro-Palestinian voices, particularly in academic settings. During the 2024 protests at Columbia, Khalil acted as a mediator between university officials and students, helping to facilitate discussions during a period of intense campus activism. His involvement brought him significant public attention, as well as scrutiny from both university administrators and federal authorities.
Amidst the legal wrangling, Khalil’s fears about his future have only grown. As a Syrian-born Algerian citizen of Palestinian heritage, he has expressed concern that deportation to either country could make him a target for Israeli authorities due to his activism. His legal team shares these concerns, emphasizing the potential dangers he could face if forced to leave the United States.
In June 2025, Khalil’s attorneys filed a $20 million lawsuit against the federal government, alleging false imprisonment, malicious prosecution, and defamation through accusations of antisemitism. The suit is part of a broader effort to challenge what his supporters see as a campaign of intimidation and suppression directed at pro-Palestinian activists.
The case has also reignited debates about the limits of free speech, the scope of government authority in immigration matters, and the rights of activists on U.S. soil. As Khalil’s appeal moves forward, legal observers and advocates on all sides are watching closely. The outcome may set important precedents for how the U.S. handles high-profile cases at the intersection of immigration, political activism, and campus protest.
For now, Mahmoud Khalil remains in legal limbo—released from detention but facing the prospect of deportation to countries where he fears for his safety. His story, and the fierce debate it has sparked, underscores the ongoing tensions in American society over free speech, dissent, and the rights of immigrants.
