Overview

• Mahmoud Khalil, a Palestinian activist and green card holder, was arrested by ICE agents under a rarely used McCarthy-era provision of the Immigration and Nationality Act (INA).
• The Trump administration accuses Khalil of supporting Hamas and leading antisemitic protests, though no criminal charges have been filed against him.
• Khalil’s lawyers argue his detention violates constitutional rights, emphasizing his peaceful activism and lack of evidence for the allegations.
• A federal judge has temporarily stayed Khalil’s deportation, granting limited access to his attorneys while jurisdictional disputes over his case continue.
• The case has drawn criticism from civil rights advocates and Jewish groups, highlighting concerns over government overreach, free speech, and the targeting of dissenters.