Mahmoud Khalil speaking to reporters after his short suspension in April for taking over a university building (Source: FreedomTV news video clip)
Mahmoud Khalil speaking to reporters in April 2024 (video snippet)

US Revokes Palestinian's Green Card Over Violent Columbia Protests

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The Judean Staff
International

In a dramatic turn of events, Mahmoud Khalil, the Palestinian activist who spearheaded anti-Israel demonstrations at Columbia University and Barnard College, was taken into custody by Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents in a forceful raid on his campus apartment. The arrest, which has sent shockwaves through activist circles and academia alike, is reportedly part of the Trump administration’s sweeping crackdown on student agitators disrupting American campuses.

A Controversial Figure in Campus Unrest

Khalil, a former graduate student at the Ivy League institution, has been a central figure in orchestrating mass protests. He initially obtained his undergraduate degree in Beirut before arriving in the U.S. to complete his studies at Columbia. His time on campus was marked by relentless activism, particularly through his leadership of Apartheid Divest, a student-run organization notorious for its aggressive anti-Israel rhetoric and disruptive demonstrations.

Despite officially graduating in December, Khalil remained an active presence in campus activism, playing a leading role in last week's storming of the Milstein Library at Barnard College. In footage widely circulated on social media, he was seen wielding a bullhorn and defiantly confronting school administrators, rallying students to escalate their demonstrations.

Ties to UNRWA and Controversial Political Affiliations

Khalil’s activist resume extends beyond Columbia’s gates. According to his LinkedIn profile, he served as a political affairs officer with the United Nations Relief and Works Agency (UNRWA) from June through November 2023. Israel has long accused UNRWA of being infiltrated by Hamas operatives, raising serious concerns about his ideological allegiances and the potential for extremist connections within elite American institutions.

A Midnight Raid and the University’s Tepid Response

The arrest occurred late Saturday night, when ICE agents entered Khalil’s university-owned apartment, just blocks from Columbia’s campus. His lawyer, Amy Greer, described the raid as “unjust” and condemned the administration’s efforts to revoke Khalil’s visa and green card. Sources indicate that Khalil is being detained under new federal directives aimed at expelling foreign students engaged in what the administration has labeled as "violent and subversive" activity on U.S. soil.

As agents swept through his residence, Columbia University issued a lukewarm statement regarding law enforcement’s presence near campus, reiterating its policy of non-cooperation with ICE—unless legally required.

“Consistent with our longstanding practice and the practice of cities and institutions throughout the country, law enforcement must have a judicial warrant to enter non-public university areas, including university buildings,” the statement read.

Critics lambasted Columbia’s response as a feeble attempt to distance itself from the controversy without taking a firm stance against radical activism that has disrupted campus life for months.

Political Fallout and Trump’s Stern Warning

Khalil’s arrest is the latest escalation in the federal government’s effort to rein in campus disorder. Last September, his group was among those who staged a takeover of Columbia University’s campus, drawing the ire of local and state officials, including New York Governor Kathy Hochul, who demanded swift disciplinary action against the demonstrators.

During those protests, Khalil brazenly declared that the movement would not be deterred, vowing to intensify their actions:

“As long as Columbia continues to invest and to benefit from Israeli apartheid, the students will continue to resist. Not only protests and encampments—the limit is the sky.”

However, his defiance now appears to have cost him dearly. During last spring’s student encampment protests, Khalil admitted to Columbia’s student newspaper that he was avoiding direct participation for fear of jeopardizing his visa status. Yet, his cautious approach was abandoned in recent months, as he escalated his involvement in disruptive actions, leading to his ultimate downfall.

An ICE agent reportedly informed Greer that the agency was enforcing a State Department directive to revoke Khalil’s visa and green card in accordance with President Trump’s commitment to expelling foreign student agitators. The move coincides with Trump’s recent order to strip Columbia University of approximately $400 million in federal grants and contracts due to alleged violations of anti-discrimination laws and its failure to curb radical campus unrest.

The End of an Era?

With Khalil’s arrest and the federal government tightening its grip on campus extremism, the tide may be turning against the unchecked disruptions that have plagued institutions like Columbia. The question remains: will his detention serve as a warning to other radical activists, or will it ignite even greater resistance?

For now, Khalil sits in federal custody, his future in the United States uncertain. The activist who once defiantly proclaimed that “the limit is the sky” may now find that limit set by a deportation order.

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