A Palestinian student activist from Columbia University has broken his silence following his arrest by US immigration officers.
Mahmoud Khalil, a green card holder originally from Syria, was detained earlier this month and remains in custody in a Louisiana detention center.
Khalil was a well-known figure in pro-Palestinian demonstrations at Columbia, particularly during the Gaza war protests in 2024. He claims his arrest was politically motivated, describing himself as a “political prisoner” targeted for speaking out in support of Palestinians.
His detention has been linked to President Donald Trump’s recent pledge to take action against student protesters accused of engaging in what he calls “un-American activity.” Trump has suggested that activists like Khalil support Hamas, an organization the US classifies as a terrorist group. The administration has vowed to revoke visas and deport those it believes fall into this category.
Khalil was arrested on March 8 while returning home from dinner with his wife. He says immigration officers did not present a warrant before detaining him. After spending a night in a New York federal building and being briefly held in New Jersey, he was transferred to Louisiana. His lawyers have since been fighting for his release and claim he is being denied proper access to legal counsel.
In a letter dictated from detention, Khalil criticized both the Trump and Biden administrations for their policies toward Palestinians. He also accused Columbia University of failing to protect students from political targeting, pointing to previous disciplinary actions against pro-Palestinian demonstrators.
Khalil’s wife, who is eight months pregnant and a US citizen, says he was fearful of deportation even before his arrest. He had sought urgent legal help from the university a day before he was taken into custody.
The case has sparked debate over free speech, student activism, and immigration policies. The White House continues to defend its stance, while Khalil’s supporters push for his release.