Columbia Activist's Arrest: ICE Cracks Down on Pro-Hamas Student!

2025-03-11 00:05:45.959

Mahmoud Khalil, a Syrian-born Palestinian who recently graduated from Columbia University, was arrested by ICE on March 9, 2025. The arrest followed an investigation into his alleged ties to Hamas, a designated terrorist organization. A White House source stated that Secretary of State Marco Rubio was presented with intelligence indicating Khalil posed a national security threat. Khalil was a prominent figure in anti-Israel protests at Columbia, leading several campus demonstrations and building takeovers. The arrest was lauded by President Trump, who called it the "first of many" arrests targeting pro-Hamas activists on college campuses. Khalil's attorney, Amy Greer, alleges the arrest is an act of repression against student activism and political speech. A Manhattan federal judge temporarily halted Khalil's deportation after he filed a petition alleging illegal detention. The incident has sparked debate regarding the balance between national security concerns and freedom of speech, particularly on university campuses.