Mahmoud Khalil, previously a graduate student in Colombia and an anti-Israel activist, is set to be deported to either Syria or Algeria. This follows a ruling by a Louisiana immigration judge who identified fraudulent elements in his green card application.
Judge Jamie Comans dismissed three claims made by Khalil’s attorneys on September 12 that aimed to rectify issues with his green card application process.
Khalil did not disclose his connections and participation with organizations like the United Nations Relief and Works Agency (UNRWA) and the Columbia University Apartheid Divestment (CUAD) for Palestinian refugees, according to Judge Comans’ findings.
The judge noted that evidence indicated Khalil was aware of the implications his activism could have on his immigration status. “The evidence shows that respondents were aware of the potential consequences of immigration for their involvement in protests organized by various organizations, including CUAD,” Comans stated in a decision shared with Khalil’s legal team.
He emphasized that exemptions are not intended to reward candidates who appear not to be fully transparent in their immigration applications.
Several factors were considered in determining whether Khalil might qualify for an exemption. However, the judge concluded that the unambiguous omissions in his application were significant enough to outweigh these factors. The ruling also mentioned that the Secretary of State viewed Khalil’s presence in the U.S. as potentially problematic from a foreign policy standpoint.
Additionally, it was noted that Khalil, 30, had not owned property or held any job during his time in the U.S., which factored negatively into the judge’s decision.
He is now facing deportation to Algeria or Syria, following a significant influx of Palestinian migrants to those areas in 2022.
Khalil’s attorneys have sought relief from the decision through New Jersey’s U.S. District Judge Michael Fabiartz. They revealed in a letter that he plans to appeal to the Fifth Circuit within a month.
Khalil was notably involved in organizing protests that escalated into riots at Columbia University and Barnard College in 2023. He was initially arrested in March and released from federal custody in June.
