Columbia Activist Arrested by ICE: Free Speech Under Attack?

2025-03-10 18:07:46.84

Mahmoud Khalil, a leader of the Columbia United Apartheid Divest group known for disruptive protests at Columbia and other universities, was arrested by ICE agents at his university apartment. His legal filing claims the arrest is illegal, citing his lawful permanent resident status and arguing the arrest represents government repression of student activism and free speech targeting criticism of Israel. The filing names several high-ranking officials as respondents, accusing them of violating Khalil's First Amendment and Due Process rights. The arrest marks the first such action against an individual connected to the anti-Israel campus protests that began last spring.