Columbia Graduate Mahmoud Khalil Faces Crucial Immigration Hearing Amid Allegations Of Political Targeting

 

Mahmoud Khalil, a Columbia University graduate student and lawful permanent resident, is set to appear Thursday at a critical immigration hearing that could determine whether he remains in the United States or faces deportation. Detained since March, Khalil has not been charged with any crime. His attorneys argue he is being targeted for his pro-Palestinian activism on campus and that his arrest and detention represent serious misconduct by the government.

Khalil played a key role in facilitating negotiations during last year’s pro-Palestinian protests at Columbia. He is now one of several international students the Trump administration has accused—without charges—of posing a national security threat due to alleged connections to terrorist organizations. His legal team vehemently denies these claims, calling the accusations politically motivated and unsupported by evidence.

At Thursday’s hearing, Khalil’s lawyers plan to renew their motion to terminate deportation proceedings, citing what they call “egregious government misconduct,” including his warrantless arrest. His attorneys have submitted new video footage they say directly contradicts claims by immigration authorities that Khalil posed a flight risk at the time of his arrest. The footage reportedly shows Khalil cooperating fully as he was detained in the lobby of his apartment building.

“We’ve now caught the government in multiple lies—some made directly to the court,” said Marc Van Der Hout, a member of Khalil’s legal team.

Khalil’s case has unfolded more slowly than others. In similar cases, three other international students detained by immigration authorities were released after successful legal challenges. But Khalil remains in custody, with his case straddling two jurisdictions: a federal district court in New Jersey and an administrative immigration court in Jena, Louisiana.

Baher Azmy, legal director of the Center for Constitutional Rights, criticized the court handling Khalil’s case, saying it has shown a “worrying lack of independence and fairness.”

According to his attorneys, federal immigration authorities have intentionally delayed Khalil’s habeas corpus proceedings—where a judge could order his release—while attempting to fast-track his deportation case through the immigration court system, which operates under the Department of Justice and offers limited judicial independence.

“There is no legitimate reason for the rush, other than to circumvent the federal court’s authority,” Van Der Hout said.

Video Evidence, Character Declarations, and a Life in Limbo

Thursday’s hearing will see the introduction of hundreds of pages of new evidence supporting Khalil’s case. Among the documents are statements from professors, classmates—including Jewish students—and human rights experts who testify to Khalil’s character and argue that deportation would place him at risk of persecution abroad.

His attorneys have also submitted an asylum application, citing the risk of harm if Khalil is returned to his home country. Government lawyers, however, have indicated their intent to block the application, arguing Khalil poses a national security risk. The government’s claim is reportedly based on a letter from Secretary of State Marco Rubio but lacks any allegations of criminal conduct.

Khalil’s legal team says the administration is relying on a rarely used provision in immigration law that allows removal based on perceived foreign policy implications. In Khalil’s case, the government argues his presence undermines its efforts to combat antisemitism.

Despite his ongoing legal battle, Khalil has already suffered personal and academic losses. He missed his graduation from Columbia and the birth of his first child. His wife, Dr. Noor Abdalla, gave birth to their son, Deen, last month while Khalil remained in detention.

Earlier this week, Abdalla flew with their newborn son to Louisiana, requesting a contact visit so Khalil could meet his child for the first time. ICE officials denied the request, citing a blanket policy against such visits.

“After flying over a thousand miles for the chance to let our son meet his father, we were denied even that basic human right,” Abdalla said. “This is deliberate cruelty.”

However, a federal judge in New Jersey has since ordered immigration officials to allow an in-person meeting between Khalil, his wife, and his legal team before Thursday’s hearing. While the order does not mention his son specifically, Abdalla and Deen are expected to be present at the hearing.

National Backlash and a Fight for Free Speech

Khalil's case has triggered protests and widespread criticism from advocacy groups and civil rights organizations, who see his detention as part of a broader pattern of political retaliation under the Trump administration. Supporters argue that Khalil is being punished for exercising his right to free speech.

During Columbia’s commencement ceremony on Wednesday, acting president Claire Shipman acknowledged Khalil’s absence, drawing emotional reactions from graduates.

At an earlier hearing, an immigration judge ruled that Khalil could be deported, based on the government's argument that his presence may pose foreign policy risks. His attorneys say this decision was based solely on the Secretary of State's letter and lacked substantive evidence.

Regardless of the outcome of Thursday’s hearing, Khalil’s legal team plans to appeal any adverse decision to the Board of Immigration Appeals. A separate federal court order remains in effect, temporarily preventing his deportation.

As Khalil awaits his fate, his case has come to symbolize what critics say is a dangerous erosion of civil liberties and due process—particularly for immigrants, students, and political activists.