Trump administration moves to deport pro-Palestinian activist over alleged immigration fraud

The Trump administration has intensified its efforts to deport Columbia University graduate and pro-Palestinian activist Mahmoud Khalil, now claiming that his removal is justified due to alleged omissions on his green card application. Initially accused of being a Hamas sympathizer—a charge the administration failed to substantiate—Khalil is now facing allegations that he failed to disclose past affiliations with two organizations, a claim his attorneys argue is legally flimsy and politically motivated.

According to the government, Khalil did not reveal his previous work with the Syria office of the British Embassy in Beirut or his affiliation with the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA). The latter has long been a point of contention among American and Israeli politicians, who have accused the agency of antisemitism.

UNRWA spokesperson Juliette Touma confirmed that Khalil was an unpaid intern in 2023 but was never formally employed by the organization. Nonetheless, the administration insists that his alleged omission constitutes immigration fraud. In a legal filing, the government stated that Khalil “sought to procure an immigration benefit by fraud or willful misrepresentation of a material fact.”

Khalil, a key negotiator for student protesters at Columbia University opposing the Israel-Hamas war, was arrested on March 8 and has remained in Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) custody since. A federal judge, Jesse Furman, has temporarily blocked his deportation and transferred the case, preventing immediate removal.

The Trump administration previously sought to justify his deportation under a law allowing the removal of noncitizens whose presence could have “serious adverse foreign policy consequences for the United States.” However, when pressed on Khalil’s alleged terrorist activity, Homeland Security Deputy Secretary Troy Edgar provided no concrete evidence, stating only that “it’s clear, or we wouldn’t be talking about it.”

Khalil’s legal team contends that the latest accusations reflect an attempt to shore up a weak case. Attorney Baher Azmy dismissed the claims, stating, “We’re not at all surprised because it’s a recognition that the initial charges are unsustainable. This new theory does not erase the clear retaliation against Khalil for his political activism.”

In a letter dictated to his attorneys, Khalil described himself as a “political prisoner.” His legal team has renewed efforts to secure his release, arguing that he poses no flight risk or danger to the community.

UNRWA, founded in 1949, has long been a focal point of political controversy. While it provides essential aid to Palestinian refugees—including food, healthcare, and education—both American and Israeli officials have accused the agency of fostering antisemitic narratives. Israel banned UNRWA from operating within its borders in 2024, alleging that some employees participated in Hamas’s October 7 attack, which killed over 1,200 people.

Following these allegations, the Biden administration withdrew U.S. funding from the agency in January 2024, a move echoed by over a dozen other nations. President Donald Trump further escalated the crackdown by signing an executive order in February cutting off all U.S. aid to UNRWA, citing security concerns. UNRWA officials have denied these allegations, urging an independent investigation into claims that its facilities have been used for terrorist activities.

Khalil, an Algerian citizen who grew up in a Palestinian refugee camp in Syria, was initially held at an ICE facility in Louisiana, over a thousand miles away from the court handling his case in New Jersey. His attorneys have pushed for his transfer closer to family and legal counsel, arguing that his continued detention in Louisiana hinders his ability to prepare his defense.

The government has resisted the transfer, citing logistical concerns, including bedbug issues and a lack of available space in New Jersey facilities.

Khalil’s immigration proceedings remain separate from the broader federal case challenging his detention. While the Trump administration insists that his deportation is warranted based on alleged misrepresentations, his legal team argues that only an immigration judge should determine whether any discrepancies in his residency application justify removal.

As legal battles continue, Khalil’s case has become a flashpoint in the administration’s broader crackdown on pro-Palestinian activism and immigration enforcement on U.S. campuses. His attorneys remain adamant that the government’s shifting justifications for his deportation indicate a politically motivated attack rather than a legitimate legal case.