Mahmoud Khalil, who’s in custody in Louisiana as his case strikes by means of courts, referred to as his March 8 arrest by immigration authorities an “abduction” in an op-ed printed Friday within the Columbia Spectator.
“Since my abduction on March 8, the intimidation and kidnapping of international students who stand for Palestine has only accelerated,” Khalil mentioned within the op-ed.
He mentioned Columbia’s management has suppressed pupil dissent over Israel’s conflict in Gaza, which it launched after the Oct. 7, 2023, terror assault by Hamas.
Khalil is a lawful U.S. everlasting resident with a inexperienced card, his legal professional has mentioned. His authorized workforce has mentioned his detention is a violation of his due course of and First Modification rights.
Federal officers have mentioned that he led actions “aligned to Hamas,” which america has designated a terrorist group.
He has not been charged with committing any crime, and an legal professional of his has mentioned there is no such thing as a proof he has offered any form of assist to a terrorist group.
The Trump administration is looking for to deport him beneath a provision in federal immigration regulation that enables the secretary of state to deport noncitizens deemed a risk to U.S. overseas coverage.
Within the op-ed, Khalil referred to different college students who’ve been arrested and are dealing with deportation — together with Tufts College doctoral pupil Rümeysa Öztürk.
The Division of Homeland Safety has mentioned that Öztürk “engaged in activities in support of Hamas.”
Tufts has defended Öztürk and mentioned the opinion piece was according to speech permitted beneath its insurance policies of free expression.
“The University has no further information suggesting that she has acted in a manner that would constitute a violation of the University’s understanding of the Immigration and Naturalization Act,” Tufts mentioned Wednesday.
Khalil in his Columbia Spectator op-ed mentioned that Öztürk and others have been snatched by the state.
“The situation is oddly reminiscent of when I fled the brutality of Bashar al-Assad’s regime in Syria and sought refuge in Lebanon,” Khalil mentioned.
Rubio has defended the revocation of visas by saying that, “No one has a right to a student visa. No one has a right to a green card.”
A decide has additionally briefly blocked the deliberate deportation of Öztürk.
The conflict in Gaza sparked pupil protests at universities throughout the nation, with demonstrators calling consideration to the civilian demise toll in addition to problems with Palestinian rights. Some have labeled the protests and habits antisemitic.
Columbia President Nemat “Minouche” Shafik resigned in August, following months of criticism over protests on the Manhattan campus.
The Trump administration final month canceled $400 million in federal funding to Columbia, accusing the college of “inaction within the face of persistent harassment of Jewish college students.” Columbia then agreed to a checklist of calls for as a way to begin negotiations to attempt to restore the funding.
Khalil in Friday’s op-ed urged college students to proceed their efforts. “It is incumbent upon each of you to reclaim the University and join the student movement to carry forward the work of the past year,” he wrote.
