The arrest and potential deportation of Columbia University graduate student Mahmoud Khalil have sparked national outrage and raised concerns about the rights of green card holders in the US—particularly those involved in political activism. Khalil, a 30-year-old Palestinian student, completed his Master of Public Administration at Columbia’s School of International and Public Affairs in December 2024. He was an outspoken advocate for Palestinian rights and played a central role in student-led protests calling for the university to divest from companies linked to Israel’s military operations in Gaza.
His activism made him a target. On March 8, 2025, US Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents arrested Khalil at his university-owned apartment in Manhattan. The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) invoked a rarely used provision of the Immigration and Nationality Act that allows for the deportation of non-citizens if their presence is deemed to have “potentially serious adverse foreign policy consequences.” The Trump administration has framed Khalil as a “Radical Foreign Pro-Hamas Student,” despite there being no criminal charges against him.
At the time of his arrest, Khalil was a lawful permanent resident—meaning he held a green card and had legal status to live and work in the US. His attorney, Amy Greer, has argued that his detention is an attack on free speech, rather than a legitimate immigration enforcement action. Civil rights groups, including the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU), have condemned the move, calling it “unprecedented, illegal, and un-American.”
A warning to student activists?
Khalil’s arrest has sent shockwaves through student activist circles, raising fears that non-citizen students—especially those on green cards or student visas—could be targeted for expressing controversial political views. While US law grants free speech protections to all individuals, including immigrants, the Khalil case suggests that the government may seek ways to override those protections under national security or foreign policy justifications.
Legal experts argue that the government’s use of the foreign policy provision in Khalil’s case is particularly alarming. Bill Hing, a law professor at the University of San Francisco, warned that allowing the administration to equate political activism with a threat to foreign policy could have dangerous implications. “This sets a precedent where any green card holder expressing opinions contrary to government policy could face deportation,” he said.
Khalil’s case is also reminiscent of past government crackdowns on activists and dissidents. During the McCarthy era, non-citizens suspected of Communist ties were deported under similar legal justifications. Today, the Trump administration’s stance against pro-Palestinian activism on college campuses appears to be taking a similar direction.
A nationwide backlash
In response to Khalil’s detention, protests have erupted at Columbia University and beyond. Students and faculty are calling for his release, arguing that his deportation would mark a dangerous step toward suppressing free speech. Prominent figures, including actress Susan Sarandon, have voiced their support for Khalil, warning that his case is about more than just one student—it’s about the fundamental rights of all immigrants in the US.
On March 12, a federal judge temporarily blocked Khalil’s deportation, allowing him to remain in the US while his case is reviewed. But his future remains uncertain. If the government succeeds in deporting him, it could embolden further actions against non-citizen activists—especially those on student visas, who lack the protections of green card holders.
For now, the message is clear: green card holders and international students who engage in activism may find themselves under increased scrutiny. Khalil’s case may just be the beginning of a broader crackdown, leaving many to ask—who’s next?
