Mahmoud Khalil, an anti-Israel activist and former Columbia University student, is set to be deported to Algeria, marking the conclusion of a lengthy legal dispute regarding his immigration status, according to federal officials.
Khalil, originally from Syria, was arrested by ICE early last year after he accused the Trump administration of fraud related to his green card application.
“It appears he will be going to Algeria. That’s our understanding at this moment,” stated Tricia McLaughlin, assistant secretary of Homeland Security, during an interview on “Katie Pavlich Tonight” Wednesday.
She added, “This serves as a reminder to those living in this country on a visa or green card: You are guests here. Please behave accordingly.”
“Studying and residing in this country is a privilege, not an entitlement.”
The Trump administration has pursued the deportation of the 31-year-old Khalil since he was among the first arrested amid a crackdown on anti-Israel demonstrations on college campuses.
The government claims Khalil supports Hamas and notes he missed the birth of his first child while spending three months in an immigration facility in Louisiana.
Authorities justified his arrest under a seldom-used law that allows for the expulsion of non-nationals whose beliefs are seen as undermining U.S. foreign policy.
In June, a federal judge in New Jersey ordered Khalil’s release, declaring the legal basis for his detention likely unconstitutional.
Recently, the White House achieved a pivotal win when a federal appeals court reversed the ruling that mandated his release from detention.
A three-judge panel concluded that Khalil should have been allowed to handle his case within the immigration court system before moving forward with legal actions.
Following the sentencing, McLaughlin urged Khalil to “voluntarily leave now, before he faces arrest and deportation, potentially losing his chance to return.”
It remains unclear when federal authorities will try to take Khalil into custody.
Khalil has dismissed the charges against him as “absurd and unfounded,” asserting that this situation arose directly from his exercise of free speech in advocating for Palestinian rights and opposing violence in Gaza.
