Deportation Order for Former Columbia Student

Mahmoud Khalil, a former student from Columbia University, faces deportation following a ruling by an immigration judge. He has been accused of supporting terrorism through pro-Palestinian protests.

The left has rallied behind Khalil, claiming that the Trump administration is discriminating against supporters of the Palestinian cause and unlawfully backing Israel. Officials contend that Khalil’s actions contravened his immigration status by intimidating Jewish students.

“This court cannot tolerate such cases by granting a discretionary exemption,” remarked Immigration Judge Jamie Commans during the proceedings.

Judge Commans determined that Khalil had “deliberately misrepresented” vital information related to his immigration applications. He denied Khalil’s request for a waiver that could have aided his case, but his attorneys noted they have 30 days to file an appeal.

Khalil, originally from Algeria, arrived in the U.S. on a student visa from Syria in 2022. The government has accused him of failing to disclose his affiliations with several organizations, including the United Nations Relief Agency for Palestinian Refugees.

Khalil expressed his frustration in a statement, arguing that the Trump administration continues to retaliate against him for exercising his free speech rights. He suggested that their attempts to deport him were failing and resorting to “baseless” allegations to silence his advocacy for Palestinian rights. “This fascist tactic will never stop me from continuing to defend my people,” he declared.

The order was issued on a Friday but was filed earlier that week.