Mahmoud Khalil, a detained anti-Israel protester from Columbia University, previously worked for UNRWA and held a senior position at the UK office for Syria. He faces deportation despite being a permanent resident, with ICE citing his protest activities as contrary to national interests under the Trump administration. His legal team argues that his detention violates his free speech rights.
Mahmoud Khalil, a detained anti-Israel protester, previously worked for the United Nations Relief and Works Agency (UNRWA) while studying at Columbia University. His involvement with UNRWA followed a senior position at the UK office for Syria in Lebanon, which required a rigorous security clearance, as noted by a former colleague, Andrew Waller. Khalil, a Syrian-born Palestinian with Algerian citizenship, ceased his employment with the UK office about two years prior to relocating to the United States in 2022 to further his education.
After moving to the U.S., Khalil became a focal point for anti-Israel protests at Columbia University, gaining attention as part of President Trump’s initiative to tackle such demonstrations. He was detained by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents on a Saturday at his Columbia-owned residence and is currently fighting deportation. Although Khalil is a permanent legal resident, his immigration status is under threat due to his active participation in protests.
Khalil’s early life saw him raised in a Palestinian refugee camp in Syria, leading to his displacement amid the Syrian civil war when he fled to Lebanon at the age of 18. He completed his undergraduate degree in computer science before securing a role within the UK embassy in Beirut, which provided insights for British foreign policy related to Syria. With the ambition to further his education, he pursued a master’s degree at Columbia, arriving in the U.S. in December 2022.
From mid-2023, Khalil served as a political affairs officer with UNRWA until it faced significant funding cuts following allegations of its members’ involvement in Hamas’ attacks on Israel. Khalil emerged as a prominent figure in various anti-Israel demonstrations at Columbia, acting as a negotiator during the protests that included a notable takeover of Hamilton Hall.
Khalil has publicly discussed the protests, asserting that armed resistance against Israel is legitimate under international law, and became a permanent U.S. resident after marrying Noor Abdalla in 2023, whom he met in Lebanon while overseeing a scholarship program. The couple engaged in a long-distance relationship for seven years and are expecting a child. Currently, Khalil’s legal team argues that his detention violates his First Amendment rights to free speech and is retaliatory against his expressed views.
The Trump administration maintains that his actions undermine national interests, although he has not been formally charged with any crime. Khalil remains in legal contention over his deportation, facing substantial challenges in light of the administration’s policies regarding protest activities on U.S. campuses.
The case of Mahmoud Khalil highlights the intersection of immigration law, academic freedom, and free speech in the context of political activism. His work with UNRWA and the British government, coupled with his anti-Israel protest activities at Columbia University, has resulted in his current detention and looming deportation order. As legal proceedings unfold, Khalil’s situation raises significant questions about governmental overreach and the protection of individual rights in the United States.
Original Source: nypost.com
