Mon Mar 10 23:30:00 UTC 2025: **News Article: Palestinian Activist Detained by ICE Following Trump Administration Crackdown**
**New York, March 11, 2025** – Mahmoud Khalil, a prominent Palestinian student activist and green card holder at Columbia University, was arrested by Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents on Saturday, March 8th. The arrest, which occurred at his university apartment, followed a State Department order to revoke his green card, according to his attorney, Amy E. Greer.
The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) justified the arrest by claiming Khalil’s activities were aligned with Hamas, a designated terrorist organization. This action comes a day after the Trump administration cancelled $400 million in grants and contracts to Columbia University, citing inaction against alleged harassment of Jewish students.
Khalil, a lead negotiator for pro-Palestine protesters at a 2024 Gaza solidarity encampment, was reportedly detained without a warrant and his current location remains uncertain, despite initial reports placing him in New Jersey. His wife, a US citizen who is eight months pregnant, was also threatened with arrest. A habeas corpus petition has been filed challenging the legality of his detention.
Secretary of State Marco Rubio announced plans to revoke visas and green cards of Hamas supporters, signaling a broader crackdown. The pro-Palestine group Writers Against the War on Gaza (WAWOG) condemned Khalil’s arrest as an “abduction.”
President Trump confirmed the arrest, stating it was the “first arrest of many to come,” in line with his previously issued executive orders targeting “anti-Semitism” and pro-Palestine activism on college campuses. The Trump administration has previously threatened to defund universities that permit what it deems “illegal protests.” This latest action follows a series of statements and announcements targeting pro-Palestine protests and a controversial promotional video depicting a fictional “Trump Gaza” resort.
Columbia University, which has over $5 billion in federal grant commitments, acknowledged ICE’s presence on campus but offered no comment on Khalil’s specific case, issuing only a protocol for dealing with ICE agents on university property. The university has been embroiled in controversy over alleged anti-Semitism stemming from campus protests against Israel’s actions in Gaza. Khalil’s detention also followed an online campaign against him by pro-Israel groups.
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