ICE Arrests Columbia Anti-Israel Protest Leader as Trump Cracks Down on Campus Chaos [WATCH]

A Palestinian activist who led anti-Israel protests at Columbia University and Barnard College has been arrested by Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents, his lawyer confirmed.

Mahmoud Khalil, a former Columbia graduate student, was taken into custody Saturday night from his university-owned apartment near campus.

Update out of Columbia – pro Palestinian riot leader Mahmoud Khalil was arrested & detained yesterday by DHS (Department of Homeland Security).

The U.S. Dept of State has now revoked Mahmoud Khalil’s immigration status due to his participation in mob riots at Columbia.

He is… pic.twitter.com/295Vgq1qh2

— StopAntisemitism (@StopAntisemites) March 9, 2025

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His attorney, Amy Greer, told the Associated Press that Khalil now faces possible visa revocation and the cancellation of his green card under President Donald Trump’s recent directives aimed at curbing campus unrest.

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Khalil, who earned his undergraduate degree in Beirut before completing his studies at Columbia in December, was a key organizer in campus demonstrations.

He led the student-run group Apartheid Divest and served as a lead negotiator during last spring’s protest encampments at Columbia’s Morningside Heights campus, where demonstrators set up dozens of tents on university grounds.

In addition to his student activism, Khalil worked as a political affairs officer for the United Nations Relief and Works Agency (UNRWA) from June to November 2023.

The agency, which provides support to Palestinian refugees, has faced scrutiny from Israel, which alleges that some of its personnel have ties to Hamas.

Despite completing his studies months ago, Khalil remained involved in disruptive campus protests, including last week’s occupation of the Milstein Library at Barnard College.

Videos and images posted on X showed him using a bullhorn near the library entrance and engaging in discussions with school administrators.

BREAKING: Mahmoud Khalil, a student at Columbia, has reportedly been detained by DHS and had his green card revoked.

He was a lead negotiator in the 2024 encampment at Columbia and is seen here participating in last week’s sit-in at Barnard:pic.twitter.com/KH1sSahbpc

— Steve McGuire (@sfmcguire79) March 9, 2025

As federal agents arrested Khalil, Columbia University issued a statement regarding ICE’s presence near the campus.

The statement reiterated the school’s policy of not cooperating with federal immigration enforcement beyond legal requirements.

“Consistent with our longstanding practice and the practice of cities and institutions throughout the country, law enforcement must have a judicial warrant to enter non-public university areas, including university buildings,” the statement read.

“Columbia is committed to complying with all legal obligations and supporting our student body and campus community.”

Khalil had been active in campus demonstrations for months.

Last September, he participated in the takeover of Columbia’s campus at the start of the school year.

At the time, New York Governor Kathy Hochul and other state leaders condemned the protests and urged university officials to take disciplinary action.

During the protests in September, Khalil spoke to a reporter from The New York Post, stating that student organizers were determined to escalate their efforts.

“As long as Columbia continues to invest and to benefit from Israeli apartheid, the students will continue to resist,” Khalil said.

“Not only protests and encampments, the limit is the sky.”

In April, at the height of the campus demonstrations, Khalil told the Columbia Daily Spectator that he was avoiding direct participation in protests over concerns about his student visa status.

Despite this, he was briefly suspended by Columbia for his involvement in the encampments.

He later told the BBC that the suspension was reversed the following day due to a lack of evidence.

“[They said] that after reviewing the evidence, they don’t have any evidence to suspend,” he said.

Following Khalil’s arrest, ICE reportedly informed his attorney that the agency was acting under a State Department directive to revoke his student visa and green card.

This enforcement follows President Trump’s recent pledge to deport foreign students involved in campus disruptions.

Khalil’s arrest comes just days after President Trump announced plans to withdraw approximately $400 million in federal grants and contracts from Columbia University over its noncompliance with anti-discrimination laws.

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