New Yorkers Protest as White House Defends Arrest of Mahmoud Khalil at Columbia
New York Times5 days ago
US Judge Extends Ban on Deportation of Pro-Palestine Activist Mahmoud Khalil
Above: People gather outside of a New York court to protest the arrest and detention of Mahmoud Khalil at Foley Square on March 12, 2025 in New York City. Image copyright: Michael M. Santiago/Staff/Getty Images News via Getty Images
The Facts
A US judge on Wednesday further extended the ban on the deportation of Mahmoud Khalil, a pro-Palestine activist who led campus protests at Columbia University and was detained by federal immigration authorities over the weekend.
Khalil, 30, is of Palestinian descent but was born in Syria. He arrived in the US in 2022 on a student visa and has become a legal permanent resident, known as a green card holder, after marrying a US citizen — currently eight months pregnant — in 2023. He completed his master's degree at Columbia's School of International and Public Affairs in December.
After his arrest by Department of Homeland Security (DHS) officials at his university-owned residence on Saturday, Khalil was initially taken to a detention center in New Jersey before being taken to another center in Louisiana — more than 1.3K miles away.
The Spin
Establishment-critical narrative
For simply expressing his political views, Khalil was snatched off the street, taken to a detention center, and now faces the threat of expulsion. This bears all the hallmarks of authoritarian regimes and it is incompatible with the First Amendment. Every American, irrespective of whether they agree with his views, should be worried by these developments.
Pro-establishment narrative
This has nothing to do with free speech. Khalil circulated Hamas propaganda and leaflets and, as such, was providing material support to a designated terror organization. Besides, it has nothing to do with free speech when the protest movement Khalil led engaged in vandalism and made Jewish students feel unsafe on campus.