Washington: Hundreds of demonstrators gathered outside a federal courthouse in Manhattan on Wednesday, demanding the release of Palestinian activist Mahmoud Khalil, whose recent arrest has sparked outrage and concerns over free speech in the United States.
Khalil, a 29-year-old Columbia University graduate and U.S. permanent resident, was taken into custody over the weekend by Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents at his home in New York City. His detention comes amid a crackdown on pro-Palestinian activism, with the Trump administration seeking to revoke his green card.
During a brief hearing, Khalil’s lawyer, Ramzi Kassem, told the court that his client had been allowed only one monitored and recorded call with his legal team from a detention center in Louisiana. In response, U.S. District Judge Jesse Furman ruled that Khalil must be granted two privileged phone calls with his lawyers, ensuring government officials cannot listen in. The judge had already issued a temporary block on Khalil’s deportation earlier in the week.
Khalil played a prominent role in organizing and speaking at pro-Palestinian demonstrations at Columbia University last year, where students protested against Israel’s military actions in Gaza. His arrest aligns with President Donald Trump’s campaign promises to clamp down on such activism, including deporting foreign students involved in protests. Trump recently welcomed the arrest, calling it “the first of many to come.”
The legal basis for Khalil’s detention remains contentious. The Washington Post reported that the U.S. State Department, led by Secretary of State Marco Rubio, justified the move on national security grounds. Rubio, speaking to reporters, dismissed claims that Khalil’s case was about free speech, arguing that individuals with visas or green cards have no inherent right to remain in the U.S.
Outside the courthouse, Kassem pushed back against this narrative, stating that the legal provision being used against Khalil is rarely invoked and was never meant to suppress political speech. Khalil’s lawyers are also requesting his transfer from Louisiana back to New York, arguing that his distance from legal counsel and his pregnant wife is unfair.
Judge Furman has asked both sides to submit a joint letter by Friday, outlining their proposed timeline for written arguments regarding the legal challenges surrounding Khalil’s detention.
