In a dramatic turn of events, Mahmoud Khalil, an activist championing Palestinian rights and a one-time Columbia University student, finds himself on the brink of deportation from the United States. After enduring more than 100 days in detention, he was initially released by a federal judge.
Mahmoud Khalil, an Algerian-Palestinian activist, is facing imminent deportation from the United States after more than a year of legal battles. He was known for his campus activism and criticism of Israeli policies. Khalil is a former Columbia University graduate student. He gained attention for his role in pro-Palestinian protests on campus during the Gaza war. He holds permanent resident status in the United States and Algerian citizenship through family ties.On March 8, 2025, Khalil was arrested by Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) outside his Manhattan residence. He was transferred to a detention centre in Louisiana, where he remained for more than 100 days. The government claimed his activism posed a threat to US foreign policy, while Khalil maintained he had committed no wrongdoing.In June 2025, a federal judge ordered Khalil’s release from detention, ruling he was neither a flight risk nor a danger to the community.In September 2025, an immigration judge ruled that Khalil could be deported to Algeria or Syria, citing alleged misrepresentation on his green card application. Khalil appealed the ruling to the Board of Immigration Appeals. His lawyers also filed lawsuits arguing his detention and removal violated his constitutional rights.On January 15, 2026, the US Court of Appeals reversed the earlier ruling that had freed Khalil. The court said the lower court lacked jurisdiction to order his release, allowing immigration proceedings to continue. Following this decision, the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) confirmed Khalil is set to be re-arrested and deported, likely to Algeria.Khalil was a lead negotiator and visible spokesperson for the Gaza Solidarity Encampment and broader pro‑Palestinian protests at Columbia University in spring 2024, during demonstrations calling for a ceasefire in the Gaza war and divestment from Israel. He regularly spoke to news media, negotiated with university administrators on behalf of protesters and worked at the front of encampment actions.
