Overview
- Mahmoud Khalil, a Syrian-born Palestinian refugee and Columbia University graduate, was arrested on March 8 by ICE and is detained in Louisiana, facing deportation.
- The U.S. State Department revoked Khalil's green card and visa, citing alleged activities aligned with Hamas, a designated terrorist organization, though no direct evidence has been provided.
- Secretary of State Marco Rubio emphasized that visa holders must adhere to U.S. laws and policies, asserting that Khalil's involvement in campus protests, including vandalism, violated his terms of stay.
- Critics, including the ACLU and civil rights advocates, argue Khalil's detention is a violation of First Amendment rights and a dangerous precedent for suppressing political dissent.
- A federal judge has temporarily blocked Khalil's deportation, and his legal team is challenging the case, highlighting concerns over due process and the weaponization of immigration laws.