Arrest of a Columbia University graduate participating in campus protests against Israel ignites widespread outrage online

By lauraharris // 2025-03-15

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A Columbia University graduate, Mahmoud Khalil, was arrested by ICE on March 8 at his student residence. Despite presenting his green card, ICE agents allegedly threatened to revoke it, sparking outrage over potential suppression of pro-Palestine advocacy.
The Department of Homeland Security claimed Khalil was arrested for allegedly "leading activities aligned to Hamas," but provided no evidence, leading to accusations of targeting dissent and immigrant communities.
Students, activists and civil rights organizations condemned the arrest, calling it an intimidation tactic to silence pro-Palestine voices and a broader crackdown on free speech and immigrant rights.
Critics accused Columbia of cooperating with federal authorities, demanding the university defend free speech and immigrant rights. Khalil had been targeted for his Palestinian identity and activism, including during the Gaza Solidarity Encampment.
An Action Network petition demanding Khalil's release garnered over a million signatures in 24 hours, highlighting widespread opposition to his detention and Columbia's collaboration with ICE.

The recent arrest of a new Columbia University graduate for participating in campus protests against Israel has ignited widespread outrage online from students, activists and civil rights organizations. Mahmoud Khalil, a permanent resident of the U.S. who graduated with a master's degree in December, was detained by Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents on March 8 at his student residence facility. (Related: Police arrest former Obama adviser Stuart Seldowitz for stalking, harassing Palestinian street food vendors.) According to reports, ICE agents initially claimed Khalil's student visa was being revoked. When his wife, who is eight months pregnant, presented his green card on the spot as proof of his legal residency, an agent reportedly stated that the green card would also be revoked. However, the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) later stated on social media that Khalil was arrested for allegedly "leading activities aligned to Hamas," though no further details or evidence were provided. This has sparked a wave of condemnation from students, activists and civil rights organizations, who argue that the move is a blatant attempt to suppress pro-Palestine advocacy and intimidate immigrant communities. Many have described the detention as a "system test" for broader crackdowns on dissent. "Mahmoud Khalil's arrest is intended to make an example of him and intimidate us all from speaking out about Palestine," one social media user wrote. "And we should never stop speaking out about Palestine. Because they would like nothing better." Palestinian activists have expressed frustration over what they see as a coordinated effort to suppress their community both in the U.S. and abroad. "So we can't live in Palestine (freely or alive), can't live in the U.S. (freely), can't live in refugee camps (they're being destroyed), can't live. That's the end goal. To disappear the Palestinian people," another user posted. Critics have also directed their anger at Columbia University, accusing the institution of cooperating with federal authorities in Khalil's arrest. Students and faculty members, as well as civil rights organizations, are demanding that the university take a stronger stand in defense of free speech and immigrant rights. "The unlawful detention of Mr Khalil reeks of McCarthyism," NYCLU said in a press release on March 2. "Ripping a student from their home, challenging their immigration status and detaining them solely based on political viewpoint will chill student speech and advocacy across campus. Political speech should never be a basis of punishment, or lead to deportation."

Action Network petition launched for Khalil garners millions of signatures

In line with the widespread outrage, an Action Network petition was launched shortly after news of his detention broke, garnering over a million signatures in just 24 hours. Columbia University, which recently published a new protocol on its plans to cooperate with ICE, has targeted Khalil for his Palestinian identity and outspoken activism on multiple occasions over the last 17 months. He served as a lead negotiator during the Gaza Solidarity Encampment last spring and has frequently appeared in media interviews and press conferences. Columbia's continued acquiescence to federal agencies and outside partisan institutions has made this situation possible. Like many other Arab and Muslim students, Khalil has been the target of various Zionist harassment campaigns, fueled by doxxing websites like Canary Mission. This racist targeting serves to instill fear in pro-Palestine activists as well as a warning to others. "Add your name to demand the immediate release of Palestinian student activist Mahmoud Khalil from DHS detention and a reversal to Columbia University's protocol permitting ICE on campus without a warrant," the Action Network wrote. Follow WWIII.news for more news about Israel and Palestine. Watch this video of pro-Palestine mobs who rebranded themselves as anti-ICE protesters.

This video is from the Rick Langley channel on Brighteon.com.

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Action Network petition launched for Khalil garners millions of signatures

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