Approximately 12 protesters who demonstrated in support of former Columbia University student Mahmoud Khalil were arrested on Tuesday after clashing with New York City Police.
Immigration enforcement agents arrested Halil, a permanent US resident in New York on Saturday, and were moved to Louisiana's immigration detention centers to force the Trump administration to revoke his legal status and to force him to be involved in anti-Israel protests on campus last year.
US District Judge Jesse Furman ordered Halil, who is eight months old when his American wife is pregnant, but the court ordered him to be deported while considering the legal challenges posed by lawyers who argued that the government was illegally retaliating against him for a constitutionally protected speech. His lawyers hope he will return to New York and be released under supervision.
On Tuesday, the NYPD arrested several protesters after blocking downtown Manhattan Street, even after warning them to clear the roads.
Who is Mahmound Khalil, an activist and ice activist at the anti-Israel Columbia University?
NYPD officials will hold Iftar, protest the release of Palestinian activist Mahmoud Khalil and clash with pro-Palestinian protesters as they gather outside the Gracie Mansion to protest Mayor Eric Adams. New York City, USA, March 11, 2025. (Getty Images)
One demonstrator was tackled on the ground by one officer during his arrest.
“You move the officers, get in the way and you know you're trained in Israel,” some protesters cried when police blocked them from entering city hall parks. “Oink, Oink, Piggy, Piggy. We're going to make your life–tty.”
Police repeatedly warned protesters that if they remained on the road they would be arrested and charged with disorderly conduct.
The NYPD said late Tuesday that one person was charged with disorderly conduct and obstructed the government's charges while 11 others had been issued subpoena, the New York Post reported.
Police custody the man after getting caught up in a discussion with protesters, according to the outlet.
Ice Agent arrests anti-Israel activists who led protests for months at Columbia University
NYPD officials will hold Iftar, protest the release of Palestinian activist Mahmoud Khalil and clash with pro-Palestinian protesters as they gather outside the Gracie Mansion to protest Mayor Eric Adams. New York City, USA, March 11, 2025. (Getty Images)
Previously, around 350 protesters marched from Washington Square Park to the Federal Plaza Immigration Court, chanting anti-Israel slogans and sought Khalil's freedom, the outlet said.
“There's only one solution. Intifada Revolution,” the protesters chanted.
The group was about to give a speech in front of a federal courthouse in the middle of the street when they were told to walk from the NYPD. When demonstrators tried to enter the city hall park, police blocked them and turned to them.
Protesters said Halil was criminalised for expressing his freedom of speech. They also said he was a “political prisoner.”
“If the Trump administration and Columbia University separate us from the key cornerstones of our community, our movement will start to crumble,” the protesters cried.
Officers also clashed with demonstrators outside the Gracie Mansion to protest against New York City Mayor Eric Adams, who holds Iftar. Muslims are tanning to break the speed of each day during Ramadan – demanding the release of Khalil.
Palestinian protesters gather outside the Gracie Mansion to protest New York City Mayor Eric Adams against Mayor Iftar and demand the release of Palestinian activist Mahmoud Khalil. New York City, USA, March 11, 2025. (Getty Images)
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Free Speech Groups and other civil rights groups criticized Khalil's detention as a violation of his initial right to amend his freedom of expression, saying the Trump administration is trying to curb speech it disagrees with.
“This is America. We don't throw people into detention centers for their politics, and in doing so we are betraying the people's commitment to freedom of speech,” the foundations of individual rights and expression stated in a statement.
President Donald Trump has vowed to eradicate anti-Semitism suspicions by foreign citizens on university campuses after several anti-Israel protests on Colombia and other US campuses after the Israel-Hamas war began on October 7, 2023.
Khalil's next court hearing is scheduled for Wednesday.
