Mahmoud Khalil, a recent graduate of Columbia University and a pro-Palestinian activist, is speaking out from a detention center in Jena, Louisiana. He was detained by U.S. immigration authorities on March 8, 2025, and this marks his first public statement since his arrest. Khalil describes himself as a political prisoner and highlights the injustices faced by many who are denied legal protections.
In a statement to the Guardian, Khalil accused the Trump administration of targeting him as part of a wider effort to silence dissent. He warned that people with visas, green cards, and even U.S. citizens could face similar scrutiny for their political beliefs. Khalil, a permanent U.S. resident married to an American citizen, was arrested in New York City due to his involvement in pro-Palestinian protests last spring at Columbia University.
Khalil shared his experience of the arrest, stating that immigration agents did not show a warrant and threatened him with deportation. He expressed concern for his wife, Noor, fearing she might also be arrested. After his arrest, he was moved to a holding facility in New Jersey before being transferred to Louisiana, where he currently remains.
From his detention cell, Khalil raised questions about who truly has rights in the U.S. He recounted meeting fellow detainees, including a Senegalese man held for a year without resolution and a young man facing deportation despite living in the U.S. since childhood. Khalil lamented that justice is often absent in immigration facilities.
He condemned U.S. foreign policy, criticized Columbia University for yielding to federal pressure regarding student protests, and denounced Israel’s actions in Gaza. He stated that his arrest was a direct result of exercising his right to free speech in advocating for a free Palestine and an end to violence in Gaza.
Following Khalil’s detention, protests erupted in New York City, with hundreds demanding his release. On March 10, a federal judge temporarily blocked efforts to deport him, asking for further arguments from both sides. The judge later moved the case to New Jersey, indicating that he did not have jurisdiction over Khalil’s situation while he was being held in New Jersey.
Khalil did not directly participate in the protests due to concerns about his visa status, but he was active in media discussions and negotiations with the university on behalf of student activists. His detention has sparked a broader conversation about the treatment of students involved in protests against the Israel-Hamas conflict, as government pressure on universities grows.
In a recent post, President Trump labeled those supporting the Palestinian cause as "terrorist sympathizers" and vowed to deport them. Meanwhile, the U.S. government has begun cutting funding to universities that do not comply with new policies regarding diversity and inclusion programs.
Khalil’s situation is part of a larger trend of increasing scrutiny on student activism, particularly regarding issues related to Palestine. As his case unfolds, it raises important questions about free speech and the rights of individuals in the U.S.