Overview

• In an August 5 Ezra Klein interview, Khalil called reports of rising antisemitism at Columbia University “manufactured hysteria” linked to his pro-Palestinian protests.
• Since his June bail release, he has returned to leading and speaking at campus rallies, fueling debates over academic freedom and protest policing.
• He described Hamas’s October 7, 2023, attack as a “desperate attempt” to break the cycle of Palestinian marginalization, condemned civilian targeting and urged an international investigation.
• A federal judge ruled his three-month ICE detention under a Cold War–era immigration provision unconstitutional and granted bail, and DHS is now appealing that decision.
• His outspoken stance has reignited scrutiny of due process for green-card holders and the use of immigration enforcement in regulating political speech.