Skip to content

Mahmoud Khalil

Activists Rally, Fill Courtroom For Mahmoud Khalil

Philadelphia - Oct. 21. Dozens of pro-Palestine activists and other supporters of Mahmoud Khalil filled the courtroom and an overflow room today, while others rallied outside the federal court here. Khalil, a Columbia University graduate and Palestinian activist, appeared before a hearing of the U.S. Third Circuit Court of Appeals to determine if he would be returned to custody or remain free. No decision was made at today’s hearing. Khalil is a legal resident and green card holder. He was detained by Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) last March 8 in New York City.

Mahmoud Khalil Sues Trump Administration For $20 Million

Pro-Palestinian student protest leader Mahmoud Khalil on Thursday began the process of suing U.S. President Donald Trump’s administration for $20 million in damages for the harm he suffered as a result of the government’s “politically motivated plan to unlawfully arrest, detain, and deport” him. “This is the first step towards accountability,” Khalil said in a statement. “Nothing can restore the 104 days stolen from me. The trauma, the separation from my wife, the birth of my first child that I was forced to miss. But let’s be clear, the same government that targeted me for speaking out is using taxpayer dollars to fund Israel’s ongoing genocide in Gaza.”

Mahmoud Khalil To Be Freed From Detention

June 20, 2025, Newark, NY– A federal court today granted bail to Mahmoud Khalil, the Columbia University graduate student and lawful permanent resident targeted for deportation by the Trump administration because of his Palestinian rights advocacy. He will be able to return to New York to be with his wife and newborn son while his case proceeds.  “After more than three months, we can finally breathe a sigh of relief and know that Mahmoud is on his way home to me and Deen, who never should have been separated from his father,” said Dr. Noor Abdalla, Mahmoud Khalil’s wife.

Mahmoud Khalil Still Detained Despite Court Ruling It Unconstitutional

Palestinian activist Mahmoud Khalil, who has been detained in a remote ICE facility in Jena, Louisiana, since March, was hoping to be released last Friday after U.S. District Judge Michael Farbiarz ruled there was no legitimate basis for his continued detention. The judge ruled that Mahmoud Khalil’s months-long detention by the Trump administration on the grounds that Khalil’s campus activism in support of Palestinian rights posed a danger to “U.S. foreign policy” had chilled Khalil’s ability to express himself and was presumptively unconstitutional. But in a letter to the judge Friday, the government justified not releasing Khalil based on false allegations that he committed fraud on his 2024 green card application by not disclosing his previous employment with organizations including a UN agency that helps Palestinians.

‘Freedom Ride’ Caravan Launched In Defense Of Immigrant Rights

This past weekend, dozens of artists, activists, and faith leaders hit the road with the “Freedom Ride” caravan in response to the Trump administration’s broad attacks on democratic rights, including ICE raids that have sparked nationwide protests. The caravan departed on Sunday, June 8, from the controversial Delaney Hall ICE detention center in Newark, New Jersey, and has since made stops in Washington, DC as well as Durham and Charlotte in North Carolina. In the next few days, the caravan convened by IFCO/Pastors for Peace, the Interfaith Center of New York, the People’s Forum, and the Riverside Church, will continue onto Atlanta, Georgia and Birmingham, Alabama, to finally end up in Jena, Louisiana – outside of the ICE detention facility where pro-Palestine activist and Columbia graduate Mahmoud Khalil has been detained for months.

Government Misses Appeal Deadline But Refuses To Release Mahmoud Khalil

U.S. government prosecutors told New Jersey District Judge Michael Farbiarz that they would not be releasing detained Columbia student Mahmoud Khalil today, despite Judge Farbriarz’s determination on Wednesday that detaining Khalil on the basis of Secretary of State Marco Rubio’s claim that he poses a risk to U.S. foreign policy was likely unconstitutional. The judge gave the Trump administration until today to appeal that finding. Instead, the government said that a second accusation against Khalil, that he misrepresented himself on his visa application, was sufficient ground to keep him in detention. Stunningly, Farbiarz has now sided with the Trump administration.

Judge Blocks Trump From Continuing To Detain Mahmoud Khalil

A federal judge has ruled that the Trump administration cannot detain or deport Palestinian student activist Mahmoud Khalil based on Secretary of State Marco Rubio’s determination. New Jersey District Judge Michael E. Farbiarz’s preliminary injunction came in response to Khalil’s habeas corpus petition. The injunction is stayed until Friday morning, allowing the government’s lawyers time to appeal. In addition to granting the request, the court ruled that it was unconstitutional to detain or deport someone based on their political advocacy.

Hundreds March Outside ICE Facility Where Mahmoud Khalil Remains

On the morning of Thursday, May 22, detained Columbia graduate and Palestinian activist Mahmoud Khalil had an immigration hearing after US officials allowed him to meet his 1-month-old son, Deen, for the first time. As Khalil testified in an immigration court in rural Jena, Louisiana, dozens rallied outside of the immigration detention and court building, protesting against the continued detention of Khalil. Khalil has been in ICE custody since he was arrested outside of his own home in New York City on March 8. In the months since his arrest, support for Khalil’s release has not abated, with supporters rallying on Thursday in cities across the country, including New York City.

Columbia Students Boo President, Cheer Mahmoud Khalil At Graduation

Columbia University held its graduation ceremony this week. When acting school president Claire Shipman addressed the crowd, she was met with a loud chorus of boos and “Free Mahmoud!” chants. “Good morning, Class of 2025. I know that many of you feel some amount of frustration with me, and I know you feel it with the administration,” she told the students. Shipman’s attempt to separate the two entities was met with louder boos, and why wouldn’t it be? Since Columbia students erected a Gaza Solidarity Encampment last spring, the school has worked to stifle pro-Palestinian activism on campus.

New Orleans Rallies For Mahmoud Khalil Outside ICE Field Office

New Orleans, LA – Around 60 people gathered outside the Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) field office in New Orleans to protest the illegal detention of Mahmoud Khalil. Attendees rallied around speakers and chanted as a judge – hours away in rural Jena, Louisiana – would decide if Khalil could be deported for his activism for Palestine. Speaking for the Palestinian Youth Movement, Majdi Jaber said, “This ICE office that we’re outside right now directs operations in all of Louisiana, Arkansas, Mississippi, Tennessee and Alabama. Every day for the last month, these people have chosen to do nothing about Mahmoud’s incarceration.”

Judge Says Trump Can Deport Mahmoud Khalil Over His Political Beliefs

The Trump administration’s push to deport Palestine activist and former Columbia University student Mahmoud Khalil is based on an accusation of “antisemitism,” according to a source who saw the government’s filing. Facing a court deadline to hand over evidence justifying Khalil’s, the Department of Homeland Security submitted a two-page memo from Secretary of State Marco Rubio citing the Trump administration’s authority to expel noncitizens that have the potential to damage the foreign policy interests of the United States.

Mahmoud Khalil’s Immigration Status Will Be Determined Friday

Mahmoud Khalil’s immigration hearings began in Louisiana on April 8. Supporters who tried to observe the proceedings virtually were not allowed in. ABC News reported that during this hearing, Judge Jamee Comans determined that the Trump administration has 24 hours to provide evidence of allegations they’ve made to justify Khalil’s deportation. The administration has made bogus claims that Khalil poses a threat to national security. Once Khalil’s team has reviewed and responded to whatever information the Trump administration provides, Comans will decide at another hearing this Friday if Khalil can stay in the United States.

A Letter To Columbia

To Columbia—an institution that laid the groundwork for my abduction—and to its student body, who must not abdicate their responsibility to resist repression, Since my abduction on March 8, the intimidation and kidnapping of international students who stand for Palestine has only accelerated. On March 9, Yunseo Chung had to file a lawsuit and eventually seek a court order barring U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement from detaining her for her protest activity. On March 11, Ranjani Srinivasan chose to cross the border to Canada upon the belief that this university was ready to hand her over to ICE.

Jewish Pro-Palestinian Protesters Chain Themselves To Gates

Four Jewish pro-Palestinian demonstrators chained themselves to the gate near St. Paul’s Chapel early Wednesday afternoon in support of Palestinian activist Mahmoud Khalil, SIPA ’24, who was detained by Immigration and Customs Enforcement on March 8. A new group of protesters tethered themselves to the Earl Hall gates later that afternoon. A Wednesday post from Columbia’s chapter of Jewish Voice for Peace cites a March 10 report from the Forward in which Ross Glick, former leader of Betar, a self-described “bold Zionist movement,” said he visited Washington, D.C. to meet with officials about Khalil.

Jewish Supporters Rally For Mahmoud Khalil

Hundreds of Jews mobilized with Jewish Voice for Peace (JVP) in New York and Michigan, joining many thousands of non-Jews taking the streets across the country to demand the release of Mahmoud Khalil. They want freedom for Palestine and ICE out of our campuses and communities. Jewish protesters in New York City packed the lobby of Trump Tower last Thursday, and staged a sit-in at Columbia University to demand the release of Palestinian activist Mahmoud Khalil, who was seized from his home on Columbia campus by ICE and is now in custody in Louisiana.
assetto corsa mods

Urgent End Of Year Fundraising Campaign

Online donations are back! Keep independent media alive. 

Due to the attacks on our fiscal sponsor, we were unable to raise funds online for nearly two years.  As the bills pile up, your help is needed now to cover the monthly costs of operating Popular Resistance.

Urgent End Of Year Fundraising Campaign

Online donations are back! 

Keep independent media alive. 

Due to the attacks on our fiscal sponsor, we were unable to raise funds online for nearly two years.  As the bills pile up, your help is needed now to cover the monthly costs of operating Popular Resistance.

Sign Up To Our Daily Digest

Independent media outlets are being suppressed and dropped by corporations like Google, Facebook and Twitter. Sign up for our daily email digest before it’s too late so you don’t miss the latest movement news.