Detained Palestinian Activist Mahmoud Khalil Accuses Columbia of Complicity in ICE Arrest

In an op-ed from ICE custody, Khalil alleges university cooperation with federal authorities to suppress pro-Palestinian activism and compares its leadership to Nazi collaborators.

Mahmoud Khalil, a Palestinian activist detained by ICE since March 8, 2025, published an op-ed accusing Columbia University of aiding federal actions against him.
Khalil claims the university turned over student disciplinary records and created policies that broadly categorized anti-Israel sentiment as hate speech.
In the op-ed, he compares Columbia's administration to Nazi collaborators, calling it the 'Vichy on the Hudson,' and alleges manufactured safety concerns about antisemitism on campus.
The Trump administration has justified Khalil's detention by alleging ties to Hamas, a designated terrorist organization, though Khalil denies these claims.
Protests continue at Columbia, with students demanding transparency about the university's role, as legal challenges against Khalil's deportation proceed in federal court.