Palestinian Activist’s Arrest Sparks 1st Amendment & Immigration Debate – Trump Say’s It’s Just The Beginning
Former President Donald Trump issued a warning Monday after federal immigration agents detained Mahmoud Khalil, a Palestinian graduate of Columbia University and a key figure in campus protests against Israel’s war in Gaza. Trump called the arrest the “first of many to come” and signaled his administration would move aggressively to crack down on what he described as pro-terrorist demonstrations on college campuses.
Who Is Mahmoud Khalil?
Khalil, 30, is a legal U.S. resident who came to Columbia University in 2022 and earned his master’s degree last semester. He is married to a U.S. citizen who is eight months pregnant. Khalil, born in Syria to Palestinian parents, previously worked for the British Embassy in Beirut.
Although Khalil has not been charged with any crime, he was detained by immigration officials over the weekend and flown to a detention center in Louisiana. A federal judge has since ordered a pause on any deportation while his legal challenge is reviewed. A hearing is scheduled for Wednesday.
Trump Promises More Arrests and Deportations
In a social media post, Trump claimed that many students involved in protests at Columbia and other universities were “pro-terrorist, anti-Semitic, [and] anti-American,” and said, “We will find, apprehend, and deport these terrorist sympathizers from our country — never to return again.”
The Trump administration has also warned dozens of universities, including Harvard and Cornell, that they could lose federal funding if they fail to protect against antisemitism and ensure access to campus facilities for all students. Columbia is already facing a $400 million federal funding cut.
Civil Rights Advocates Sound the Alarm
Khalil’s arrest sparked strong backlash from civil rights organizations, immigration advocates, and faculty at Columbia, who say it’s a dangerous attempt to intimidate student protesters and silence political speech.
“This is a clear attempt to punish constitutionally protected advocacy on behalf of Palestinian human rights,” Khalil’s legal team said in court filings.
Faculty members also spoke out. Columbia math professor Michael Thaddeus said the arrest was meant to “make all of us quake in our boots,” and vowed continued resistance to what he described as an assault on civil liberties.
Mixed Reactions on Campus
Student groups and protesters rallied Monday outside an Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) office in Manhattan, demanding Khalil’s release.
“Trump thinks he can strip us of our rights,” said NYU student Ibtihal Malley. “But we’re not backing down.”
Even students not directly involved in the protests expressed concern. “At what point does this process stop?” asked Columbia sophomore Pearson Lund. “It’s concerning if green cards can be taken just for protesting.”
A Broader Crackdown?
Khalil appears to be the first person detained under Trump’s promised crackdown on pro-Palestinian student protests. Reports also indicate that immigration agents recently attempted to detain a second international student from Columbia but were unsuccessful in entering her apartment.
Although Khalil says he served as a public spokesperson for the protests, he denies being a leader. He was also recently investigated by Columbia’s new disciplinary body for referring to a school official as a “genocidal dean” online.
Still, supporters say Khalil is being targeted for political reasons, not for any violation of the law.
What Comes Next?
As the legal battle unfolds, Khalil’s case is becoming a flashpoint in the national conversation about immigration, academic freedom, and student activism.
His lawyers argue that the government must meet a high legal threshold to deport a lawful permanent resident — a standard they say has not been met.
Meanwhile, Trump’s statements suggest more arrests and deportations could follow as part of a broader effort to clamp down on campus dissent, particularly criticism of Israel and support for Palestinians.
