Palestinian Activist Mahmoud Khalil Faces Deportation in Landmark Free Speech Legal Battle

The Trump administration's detention of Mahmoud Khalil, a legal U.S. resident, raises constitutional questions over immigration policy and political expression.

Mahmoud Khalil, a Palestinian activist and legal U.S. resident, remains detained in Louisiana after being arrested on March 8 for activities the Trump administration claims pose foreign policy risks.
The administration cites the Immigration and Nationality Act of 1952, claiming Khalil's leadership in anti-Israel protests aligns with Hamas, though no material support or criminal charges have been filed.
Khalil's legal team argues his detention violates constitutional protections of free speech and due process, while a federal judge has temporarily blocked his deportation.
Nationwide protests have erupted, with activists and legal experts warning the case could set a dangerous precedent for deporting legal residents based on political speech.
Khalil's detention has drawn scrutiny to Columbia University's handling of campus protests and has raised humanitarian concerns, as his wife, a U.S. citizen, is eight months pregnant.