A legal battle is unfolding over the Trump administration’s policy of deporting noncitizen activists, with attorneys for a Columbia University student arguing that the crackdown violates First Amendment rights.
Mahmoud Khalil, a Palestinian-descended U.S. permanent resident, was arrested by federal agents at his Manhattan dorm and swiftly moved to an immigration detention center in Louisiana. The government claims his presence poses “serious adverse foreign policy consequences,” invoking a rarely used section of the 1952 Immigration and Nationality Act.
Khalil’s legal team, however, contends that his arrest is blatant viewpoint discrimination meant to silence dissent. They are urging a federal judge to release him on bail, warning that continued detention could prevent him from witnessing the birth of his first child.
Trump, who has pledged to expel foreign protesters, has accused Khalil—without evidence—of supporting Hamas. Meanwhile, Secretary of State Marco Rubio has pushed for revoking visas of noncitizens involved in campus demonstrations.
Columbia University, which became a focal point for protests against Israel’s military actions in Gaza, has been targeted by the administration. The federal government recently withdrew $400 million in funding from the university over allegations of antisemitism, while Homeland Security agents have conducted searches of student residences.
A judge has temporarily halted Khalil’s deportation as the case plays out in court, setting the stage for a high-stakes legal test of whether the government can target activists based on their political speech.
