Mahmoud Khalil, an anti-Israel protester, criticized what he sees as hypocrisy at Columbia University on Sunday. He highlighted the university’s claims of supporting international students while spending three months in an immigration detention center prior to his release last week.
“We need to address Columbia University’s hypocrisy. Just two weeks ago, they said they wanted to protect international students and yet ignored the situation in Gaza,” he expressed, wearing a blue polo shirt adorned with decorations.
During his 104 days inside a rural Louisiana detention center, Khalil did not receive any communication from the university, which he found particularly disheartening.
Federal immigration authorities arrested Khalil on March 8, as the Trump administration sought to deport Syrian-Americans. He was released after a New Jersey judge ruled his detention unconstitutional.
“It’s frustrating to see the double standards. Why am I a target in a movement that leans toward Israel?” he asked. “Columbia University didn’t protect me or my fellow students but seemed to encourage the harassment instead.”
The staircase of the campus cathedral was filled with Khalil’s supporters, including his wife, Dr. Noor Abdallah, and their young son Dean, who was born during Khalil’s detention. Many attendees carried mixed symbols like Palestinian flags alongside “Welcome Home” signs and anti-ICE posters.
Khalil attempted to secure a homecoming event at Columbia, but faced refusal from school officials.
“I’m not surprised by the administration’s response; they know me well. They often talk about anti-Palestinian sentiments at Columbia, but then there’s this hysteria regarding anti-Semitism,” he noted.
Even amidst the excitement of Homecoming, Khalil recognized that his challenges were far from over.
“While it feels good to be here today, it really isn’t a victory,” he reflected.
His immigration status remains uncertain, as there’s still an expulsion order against him, and the Trump administration is appealing his release.
Khalil was previously detained under the belief that the administration posed significant risks to foreign relations in the Middle East. The judge’s ruling indicated that his treatment during this time was likely unjust.
Having been released after 104 days, Khalil is a permanent resident holding a green card, married to a U.S. citizen, and a father of a son born in the United States.
