The United States is reportedly planning to deport a legal migrant for violating President Trump’s executive order.
Mahmoud Khalil, a green card-holding Columbia University graduate student and pro-Palestinian activist, was arrested by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) at his university residence Saturday, according to The Hill.
The Student Workers of Columbia labor union. describes Khalil as a “lead negotiator” and called on Columbia to reinstate its “Sanctuary Campus Policy” after reports of ICE accessing multiple buildings at the school Friday and Saturday.
The focus on Columbia University comes after the Trump administration canceled $400 million of federal contracts with the school over its alleged inaction against antisemitism on campus.
Students at Columbia took the lead in the nationwide pro-Palestinian encampments last spring that led to almost 2,000 arrests across the country. (RELATED: Is Columbia University The Epicenter Of Antisemitism In America?)
“We will vigorously be pursuing Mahmoud’s rights in court, and will continue our efforts to right this terrible and inexcusable — and calculated — wrong committed against him,” Amy Greer, Khalil’s attorney, said in a statement to NBC News.
Tricia McLaughlin, a spokesperson for the Department of Homeland Security, also confirmed Khalil’s arrest in a statement Sunday, describing the move as “in support of President Trump’s executive orders prohibiting anti-Semitism.”
“We will be revoking the visas and/or green cards of Hamas supporters in America so they can be deported,” Rubio said on the social platform X, sharing a news report regarding Khalil.
Trump celebrated Khalil’s arrest in a Monday post on Truth Social.
“We will find, apprehend, and deport these terrorist sympathizers from our country — never to return again,” the president said. “If you support terrorism, including the slaughtering of innocent men, women, and children, your presence is contrary to our national and foreign policy interests, and you are not welcome here. We expect every one of America’s Colleges and Universities to comply.”
The arrest raises serious constitutional questions, as Khalil is a legal permanent resident who has not been charged with any crime. Only an immigration judge has the authority to revoke a green card.
Tom Homan, President Trump’s border czar, said Monday that federal authorities “absolutely can” deport a legal immigrant.
“Absolutely, we can,” Homan told Stuart Varney on Fox Business Network’s “Varney & Co.” after the host asked about the arrest of Mahmoud Khalil, a leading pro-Palestinian activist, and if ICE can deport someone who is in the country legally.
“I mean, did he violate the terms of his visa? Did he violate the terms of his residency here, you know, committing crimes, attacking Israeli students, locking down buildings, destroying property? Absolutely, any resident alien who commits a crime is eligible for deportation,” Homan added.
“And that’s just one out of many,” Homan said. “We’re going to send a strong message to say, anybody here on a foreign visa, that you’re given a great right to come to the greatest country on Earth and study in our colleges. But when you come here to study, you got to obey the laws of this country. You got to obey the requirements of that visa to be lawful while you’re here.”
“So, it’s a great privilege to study in this country, but, when we give you that right to study in this country, don’t violate our laws,” he added.
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Green card holders can be removed from the Country for almost any reason. Incitement to violence is one. Not admitting in an application a link to a terrorist organization is another reason.
You have that RIGHT!
CALL ME CRAZY, BUT SEND HIM BACK ON A C130, OPEN THE BACK CARGO HATCH AND GIVE HIM A PUSH! HE CAN SWIM HOME!!!
I agree.
THAT is NOT Freedom of Speech.
Get all those FOREIGN FLAGS off our streets – go fight your battles in our own country, not in ours, while Americans support your “EDUCATION.”
I agree.
I totally agree.
Send him back to his own country if he can’t obey our laws.
If he can’t obey our laws, send him back to where he came from.
I am aware of the influence and cultural upheaval on college campuses in the US and it is disturbing. As an anthropologist, my observation of pro Hamas activity is destructive and any foreign national should be deported if engaging in activity that advocates violence. Pro Hamas individuals upenly advocate violence toward Isreal. This should be tolerated in the USA. “Freedom of speech” does not include the advocation of violence.