Palestinian Grad Student Arrested: Political Protest Leads to Visa Crisis
2025-03-10
Mahmoud Khalil, a Palestinian graduate student at Columbia University who played a prominent role in anti-Israel protests, was arrested by US Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE). Authorities revoked his student visa and green card, citing support for Hamas. The arrest is seen as an escalation of the Trump administration's crackdown on student political activism, sparking debate about free speech and political retaliation. Khalil was a key negotiator in student protests and faced disciplinary action from the university for his social media activity. The arrest is also linked to the Trump administration's threat to cut funding to Columbia University over its handling of antisemitism on campus.