Overview

• Mahmoud Khalil, a legal permanent resident and Columbia University graduate student, was arrested by ICE on allegations tied to his activism and alleged links to Hamas, although no criminal charges have been filed.
• The Trump administration invoked a rarely used provision of the Immigration and Nationality Act, allowing deportation of non-citizens deemed to pose foreign policy risks, despite concerns about its constitutionality.
• Critics argue the arrest undermines First Amendment protections and sets a dangerous precedent for targeting immigrants over political speech.
• Legal experts highlight the vagueness of the law used in Khalil's case, which has faced past judicial scrutiny for being overly broad and lacking due process safeguards.
• Protests and legal challenges are mounting, with advocates warning that the case could have a chilling effect on free speech for citizens and non-citizens alike.