The fate of former Columbia University graduate student Mahmoud Khalil hangs in uncertainty following his detention by Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents.
According to Fox News, White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt confirmed that Secretary of State Marco Rubio maintains the authority to revoke Khalil's green card or visa due to national security concerns.
The Department of Homeland Security provided evidence showing Khalil's involvement in distributing pro-Hamas propaganda fliers on Columbia University's campus. His activities have sparked intense debate about the balance between academic freedom and national security interests, leading to his arrest on Saturday at his university-owned apartment in New York.
A senior State Department official highlighted the rarely utilized Section 237 of the Immigration and Nationality Act as the legal basis for potential deportation. This provision grants the secretary of state authority to seek the deportation of individuals whose presence could pose serious foreign policy consequences for the United States.
The administration emphasizes that their actions target national security concerns rather than limiting free speech. Officials stress that individuals granted educational privileges in the United States must not engage with organizations designated as terrorist groups.
White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt stated her position firmly, saying:
And Mahmoud Khalil was an individual who was given the privilege of coming to this country to study at one of our nation's finest universities and colleges, and he took advantage of that opportunity, of that privilege, by siding with terrorists, Hamas terrorists, who have killed innocent men, women and children.
Former President Trump celebrated Khalil's arrest on Truth Social, framing it as the first of many similar actions to come. He pledged to identify and deport other individuals engaged in what he termed "pro-terrorist, anti-Semitic, anti-American activity" at universities nationwide.
Democratic opposition emerged swiftly, with Senate Judiciary Committee members led by Senator Dick Durbin condemning the detention as "straight-up authoritarianism." The controversy has intensified amid the Trump administration's decision to cancel $400 million in grant funding for Columbia University.
The Department of Education has launched investigations into 60 colleges and universities for alleged antisemitic discrimination. These institutions now face the possibility of losing federal funding depending on the investigation outcomes.
A federal judge in New York City intervened Monday to block Khalil's immediate deportation. The court scheduled a Wednesday hearing to consider motions from Khalil's legal team, who argue that ICE violated his constitutional rights.
Hundreds of protesters gathered in New York City Monday night to demand Khalil's release. Despite calls for a nationwide student walkout Tuesday, only small groups of demonstrators appeared on Columbia's campus steps.
The situation has drawn particular attention due to Khalil's personal circumstances. Born in Syria to Palestinian parents, he entered the United States in 2022 to attend Columbia and subsequently married an American citizen who is now eight months pregnant.
The controversy surrounding Mahmoud Khalil's detention continues to evolve as ICE agents transferred him to a Louisiana detention center following his arrest at Columbia University. The White House maintains its stance on revoking green cards and visas for individuals deemed threats to national security, while legal proceedings and protests challenge the administration's actions. The case's resolution could establish significant precedents for immigration enforcement and academic freedom on American campuses.
