President Trump expressed his approval of the recent arrest of pro-Palestinian activist and Columbia University alumnus Mahmoud Khalil, calling it the first of “many to come.” His administration has signaled a firm stance against protest movements it considers unacceptable, with potential legal and policy actions to limit such demonstrations.
In a statement on Truth Social, Trump described Khalil as a “Radical Foreign Pro-Hamas Student” and vowed to locate, arrest, and deport individuals he believes to be “terrorist sympathizers.” Khalil, who attended Columbia University on a student visa, was a prominent activist during last spring’s Pro-Palestinian protests on campus, frequently speaking to the media and engaging in discussions with university officials about the demonstrators’ demands.
Prior to his arrest, Khalil claimed that Columbia had accused him of misconduct before his scheduled graduation in December. He maintained that many of these allegations were related to social media posts he had no involvement with. Following his arrest, U.S. District Judge Jesse M. Furman temporarily blocked any attempt by the Trump administration to deport Khalil, pending further legal review. A hearing involving all parties is scheduled to take place in Manhattan federal court.
Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents reportedly informed Khalil that his student visa had been revoked before detaining him on Saturday. However, his attorney, Amy Greer, countered that Khalil is actually a legal permanent resident and was not in the U.S. on a student visa at the time of his arrest. His exact location remained unclear initially, with his wife being told that he had been transferred to a detention facility in New Jersey, only to find no record of his processing. ICE later confirmed that Khalil is being held at the Jena/LaSalle Detention Facility in Louisiana.
Trump reinforced his administration’s position by stating that his team is aware of other students at Columbia and other universities who have engaged in what he described as “pro-terrorist, anti-Semitic, and anti-American activity.” He warned that such behavior would not be tolerated and suggested that many of those involved were not students but “paid agitators.” He emphasized that individuals supporting terrorism or acts of violence against civilians would not be welcome in the United States.
A Department of Homeland Security (DHS) spokesperson, Tricia McLaughlin, stated that Khalil had led activities linked to Hamas, a designated terrorist organization, and that his arrest aligned with presidential executive orders prohibiting anti-Semitism.
Critics of the administration’s actions, however, see Khalil’s arrest as an overreach. Kica Matos, president of the National Immigration Law Center, called the arrest a “disturbing escalation” in the misuse of immigration enforcement, arguing that it violates Khalil’s right to free speech. She also demanded his immediate release.
The arrest coincides with the administration’s broader efforts to revoke student visas from individuals deemed to be “Hamas sympathizers.” This initiative includes AI-assisted monitoring of student visa holders’ social media accounts. Trump has also threatened to withhold federal funding from universities that allow protests deemed unlawful under his administration’s policies.
Secretary of State Marco Rubio reiterated that the U.S. has a “zero tolerance” policy for foreign nationals who support terrorist organizations. He stated that international students violating U.S. law could face visa revocation, denial of reentry, and deportation.
U.S. law grants the Secretary of State the authority to deport foreign nationals if their presence is believed to have serious negative consequences for American foreign policy. According to Homeland Security statistics, there are currently around 13 million lawful permanent residents, or green card holders, in the United States. While green card holders are allowed to live and work permanently in the country, they are not U.S. citizens and can lose their status if they commit fraud, violate immigration laws, engage in criminal activities, or fail to maintain their permanent residency.