Background

Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents arrested Mahmoud Khalil, a former Columbia University student, over his involvement in pro-Palestine protests that took place on campus. Khalil, who has a green card and was never charged with a crime, was picked up by ICE in his university-owned apartment.

The arrest came just days after it was reported that the State Department would be using AI to revoke visas for pro-Palestine student protesters. During the arrest, ICE agents reportedly told Khalil's attorney that they were acting on State Department orders to revoke his student visa, despite Khalil being a permanent resident.

Government Response

A Department of Homeland Security (DHS) spokesperson stated that Khalil had been arrested 'in support of President Trump's executive orders prohibiting antisemitism.' The spokesperson also claimed that Khalil had led activities aligned with Hamas, a designated terrorist organization.

Civil rights organizations have called Khalil's arrest a violation of the First Amendment, while other groups that claim to advocate for free speech on college campuses have remained silent. Khalil's attorney has called the arrest a clear case of retaliation, stating that 'ICE's arrest and detention of Mahmoud follows the US government's open repression of student activism and political speech, specifically targeting students at Columbia University for criticism of Israel's assault on Gaza.'

Surveillance and Government Overreach

The arrest raises questions about ICE's surveillance apparatus and the possibility of government overreach. ICE has access to a host of state, local, and federal government databases, which may have contained Khalil's address and other personal information.

It is likely that all ICE needed to find Khalil was his name, which has been publicized by groups that track pro-Palestine student activists. One such organization, Canary Mission, has published the names, photos, and other identifying information of student activists across the country, including Khalil's.

Consequences and Reactions

Khalil's arrest has sparked concerns about government surveillance and retaliation against activists. The Student Workers of Columbia reported that another student had received an email from the US consulate in their home country stating that their US visa had been revoked without giving any reason.

The Trump administration has pulled $400 million in funding from Columbia, claiming the university had failed to confront antisemitism on campus. The administration has also stated that 'this is only the beginning' of its efforts to target pro-Palestine protesters.