Mahmoud Khalil, a prominent Palestinian activist at Columbia University, was arrested by federal immigration agents who claimed they were following a state department order to revoke his residency status. Khalil's attorney revealed that agents initially intended to revoke his student visa, but instead targeted his green card. His detainment aligns with the Trump administration's increased scrutiny on universities regarding protests against Israel, particularly after Columbia faced funding cuts for failing to address concerns of antisemitism. Khalil's wife, who is pregnant, was not given a reason for his arrest but expressed concern over the lack of transparency from authorities.
"The arrest comes as Donald Trump vows to deport foreign students and imprison agitators involved in protests against Israel's war in Gaza, highlighting a targeting of dissenters."
"This is a clear escalation. The administration is following through on its threats to crack down on activism and dissent within educational institutions."
#palestinian-activism #immigration-enforcement #columbia-university #protest-politics #israeli-palestinian-conflict
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