Federal agents arrested Mahmoud Khalil, a Columbia University student and pro-Palestinian activist, without a warrant on March 8 in New York, according to court documents. According to filings from the Department of Homeland Security, immigration officers believed Khalil posed a flight risk and said he refused to cooperate when approached.
Agents claimed Khalil said he would leave the scene before they could obtain a warrant. In court filings, the government argued this created a “flight risk” that justified a warrantless arrest under a federal immigration regulation.
Khalil, a Syrian-born U.S. permanent resident with a green card, was taken to an ICE processing office, where officials later served him with a warrant and a notice to appear in immigration court.
What are Khalil’s lawyers arguing?
Khalil’s legal team claimed the arrest was unlawful and politically motivated, according to statements from his attorneys and the Center for Constitutional Rights. Attorneys argued agents violated his rights by arresting him without first securing a warrant.
They claimed Khalil, who was accompanied by his pregnant wife, remained calm and cooperative during the arrest. His wife recorded the interaction, and lawyers said they were on the phone with the couple at the time.
The American Civil Liberties Union said DHS misrepresented the arrest circumstances in earlier filings. Khalil’s attorneys argued the warrant was fabricated after the fact and are asking an immigration judge to dismiss the deportation proceedings.
Why is the government seeking to deport Khalil?
The Trump administration is attempting to remove Khalil based on his participation in campus protests linked to the Israel-Gaza conflict. Officials alleged his activism poses a threat to U.S. foreign policy. A recent ruling by an immigration judge in Louisiana sided with that claim, determining Khalil is eligible for deportation.
The court based its decision on a State Department memo filed by Secretary Marco Rubio and cited in immigration court. The memo asserting that Khalil’s presence in the U.S. could harm diplomatic efforts to combat antisemitism and protect Jewish students.
Khalil’s lawyers submitted testimonies from students, including some who are Jewish, countering accusations that he promoted antisemitic rhetoric.
What happens next in Khalil’s case?
Khalil remains in a Louisiana detention center while his attorneys attempt to block his removal to Algeria or Syria. His wife recently gave birth to their first child and ICE declined a request to release Khalil for the birth temporarily. His legal team has until the end of this week to file motions to prevent his deportation.
The Trump administration has framed Khalil’s case as part of a broader crackdown on foreign students involved in what officials call “pro-jihadist” activity on U.S. campuses. President Donald Trump previously said Khalil’s arrest fulfilled a campaign promise and would be the first of many similar actions.
