Overview

• Mahmoud Khalil, a Palestinian-born Columbia University graduate and permanent U.S. resident, was arrested by ICE agents at his university-owned apartment on March 8.
• The Trump administration linked the arrest to an executive order targeting antisemitism, accusing Khalil of activities aligned with Hamas, though no criminal charges have been filed.
• Khalil's detention has drawn criticism from civil rights groups, who argue it violates First Amendment protections and raises concerns about government overreach.
• A federal judge temporarily blocked Khalil's deportation, scheduling a hearing to review the legality of his detention on March 12.
• The arrest follows broader efforts by the Trump administration to crack down on campus protests against Israeli policies, including pulling $400 million in federal funding from Columbia University.