A US immigration judge has ordered the deportation of Mahmoud Khalil, a Palestinian activist and permanent US resident, to either Algeria or Syria. The ruling, issued by Judge Jamee Comans in Louisiana, stems from allegations that Mr. Khalil omitted information from his green card application, a claim he vehemently denies. The judge stated that Mr. Khalil "wilfully misrepresented material fact(s) for the sole purpose of circumventing the immigration process."
Mr. Khalil, 30, gained prominence during 2024 Gaza war protests at Columbia University, where he was a student. He maintains his actions were solely motivated by his commitment to free speech and his advocacy for Palestine. In a statement to the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU), he directly linked the deportation order to retaliation for his outspoken activism. He stated, "When their first effort to deport me was set to fail, they resorted to fabricating baseless and ridiculous allegations in a bid to silence me for speaking out and standing firmly with Palestine, demanding an end to the ongoing genocide."
His legal team has vowed to appeal the decision, highlighting the existence of separate federal court orders preventing his deportation or detention. This legal battle follows a period of detention in a Louisiana immigration facility earlier this year, stemming from the Trump administration's crackdown on universities allegedly failing to address antisemitism. A federal judge subsequently ordered Mr. Khalil's release after determining he posed no flight risk or threat to the community. This release came after three months of detention, a period during which his wife, a US citizen, gave birth to their son.
The US government's case rests on accusations that Mr. Khalil failed to disclose details of his past associations on his immigration documents, including his involvement with UNRWA, the UN agency assisting Palestinians, and his employment at the British Embassy in Beirut. Mr. Khalil's lawyers have filed a $20 million lawsuit alleging false imprisonment, malicious prosecution, and defamation, claiming he was falsely smeared as an antisemite. The Trump administration, under which these events transpired, had previously alleged that pro-Palestinian activists support Hamas, a designated terrorist organization, and advocated for their deportation. President Trump specifically referred to Mr. Khalil's arrest as "the first of many to come."
Mr. Khalil's role in mediating between university officials and protesters during the 2024 Columbia University demonstrations further intensified his public profile. While activists supporting Israel accused him of leading Columbia University Apartheid Divest (CUAD), a student group demanding divestment from Israel and a Gaza ceasefire, Mr. Khalil has consistently denied leadership, stating he served solely as a spokesperson and mediator. The ongoing legal battle raises significant questions about the limits of free speech and the intersection of political activism with immigration proceedings in the US.
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Originally published at: https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/cj9zv8xnml8o
