Overview

• Mahmoud Khalil, a Syrian immigrant and lawful permanent U.S. resident, is detained and faces deportation under immigration law that does not require criminal convictions.
• Critics claim Khalil's deportation is a response to his prominent role in pro-Palestinian activism, including his leadership in Columbia University Apartheid Divest (CUAD).
• The Trump administration defends its actions as legally justified, dismissing allegations of First Amendment violations.
• Khalil has attempted to distance himself from CUAD, but his past leadership and involvement in protests are well-documented.
• The case has drawn significant public and political backlash, with advocates framing it as a broader issue of free speech and government overreach.