Trump Administration Targets Columbia Protests, Arrests Palestinian Activist

The detention of Mahmoud Khalil and actions against other students raise concerns over free speech and due process on U.S. campuses.

Palestinian activist Mahmoud Khalil, a Columbia University graduate student and green card holder, was detained by ICE, with his legal team alleging retaliation for his pro-Palestinian advocacy.
The Trump administration has revoked visas and green cards of other international students linked to Columbia protests, citing alleged ties to terrorism without providing substantial evidence.
Columbia University faces federal scrutiny, including DHS raids and threats of funding cuts, for its handling of last year's pro-Palestinian demonstrations on campus.
Khalil's attorneys argue his detention violates First Amendment protections and claim his transfer to a remote Louisiana facility was intended to hinder his legal defense.
The administration's actions, including the use of a rarely invoked McCarthy-era statute, have sparked fears of broader repression of student activism and academic freedom.