Trump Delivers on His Threats, Columbia University Pro-Terror Activist Mahmoud Khalil to Be Deported Following Arrest

NEW YORK – In a decisive move that marks a new chapter in President Donald Trump’s crackdown on foreign students involved in anti-Israel protests, federal immigration authorities arrested Mahmoud Khalil, a prominent Palestinian activist, Saturday night. This arrest follows Trump’s earlier threats to deport foreign agitators and imprison those leading the charge against the U.S.’s stance on Israel.

Khalil, who played a central role in Columbia University’s student encampment protests, was apprehended in his apartment just blocks from the prestigious Manhattan campus. The immigration authorities, acting under a State Department order, revealed their intent to revoke Khalil’s green card, a dramatic escalation in the administration’s war on radical campus activism.

Khalil, who graduated in December, had been a thorn in the side of both the university and U.S. officials for his outspoken anti-Israel stance. As one of the most visible faces of the pro-Palestinian movement on campus, he had often been vocal about his belief that Columbia benefited from “Israeli apartheid” and vowed that student resistance would persist.

Pro-Hamas Columbia student Mahmoud Khalil has just been detained by DHS and is getting deported back to Syria.

pic.twitter.com/ZzGcNdxNFC

— The Persian Jewess (@persianjewess) March 9, 2025

His arrest follows Trump’s recent actions to place additional scrutiny on Ivy League universities, particularly Columbia. On Friday, the Trump administration announced a $400 million cut in grants and contracts to the university, blaming the school for failing to contain antisemitism amid campus protests.

Trump’s firm stance against anti-Israel activists is clear. He has made no secret of his plan to target individuals who disrupt American interests under the guise of protest, and his administration is now delivering on those promises. As part of the crackdown, Khalil, who holds permanent residency, was detained despite his status as a legal resident, further intensifying the stakes for activists like him.

Khalil’s attorney, Amy Greer, expressed frustration at the lack of details surrounding the arrest. “This is a clear escalation,” she said, as she described the detainment of Khalil as an example of the administration following through on its threats. His wife, who is eight months pregnant according to the Associated Press, was left in the dark as authorities declined to explain why Khalil was being detained, a stark reminder of the Trump administration’s unwavering commitment to cracking down on anti-Israel rhetoric.

NEW: Columbia University Pro-Palestine Protester and recently graduated student Mahmoud Khalil, has allegedly been detained by Department of Homeland Security in NYC.

According to his press release, the DHS agents said that the U.S. Department of State had revoked Khalil’s green… pic.twitter.com/duX73RA0Pa

— Oliya Scootercaster 🛴 (@ScooterCasterNY) March 9, 2025

Trump’s strategy is not just about targeting individuals like Khalil but sending a clear message to both foreign students and U.S. universities. His administration is following through on its pledge to ensure that institutions that foster antisemitism and anti-American sentiment face serious consequences. By cutting funding and revoking student visas, the administration is forcing schools like Columbia to reconsider their handling of divisive activism.

In a statement, a spokesperson for Columbia University said that law enforcement must provide a warrant to enter university property, but declined to confirm whether such a warrant had been issued for Khalil’s arrest. As the situation unfolds, one thing is clear: Trump is not backing down from his promise to hold university activists accountable, no matter the consequences.