Overview

• Mahmoud Khalil, a lawful U.S. permanent resident and Columbia University graduate student, was arrested on March 8 by federal immigration agents and is accused of ties to Hamas, though no evidence has been provided.
• A federal judge has temporarily blocked Khalil's deportation and transferred his legal case to New Jersey, citing jurisdictional requirements.
• Khalil has described himself as a 'political prisoner,' claiming his detention is retaliation for his pro-Palestinian activism and indicative of systemic anti-Palestinian racism in U.S. policies.
• His arrest has sparked nationwide protests, with human rights groups and lawmakers condemning the detention as an attack on free speech and due process.
• Khalil's legal team argues that his detention lacks justification, violates constitutional rights, and is part of a broader strategy to suppress political dissent.