US judge orders deportation of activist Mahmoud Khalil

Department of Strategic Research, Studies and International Relations 18-09-2025

In yet another display of Washington’s hostility toward voices critical of its closest ally in the Middle East, a US immigration judge has ordered the deportation of Mahmoud Khalil, a well-known Palestinian activist and former graduate student at Columbia University. The ruling underscores the United States’ ongoing repression of pro-Palestine voices, particularly among students and intellectuals, at a time when global criticism of Israel’s devastating war on Gaza continues to grow.

The decision, issued on September 12 by Louisiana immigration judge Jamee Comans, directs Khalil to be removed either to Algeria or Syria. Khalil, of Palestinian origin, holds Algerian citizenship and was born in Syria. He has long warned that being deported to either country could expose him to serious threats, especially given Israel’s record of targeting outspoken activists abroad.

According to documents released by the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU), the judge accused Khalil of “misrepresentation” when applying for lawful permanent residency in the United States. Specifically, Comans claimed he failed to disclose his affiliations with the United Nations Relief and Works Agency (UNRWA) and Columbia University Apartheid Divest, a student group advocating for boycotts against Israel. The judge described this omission as a “lack of candor,” asserting that Khalil sought to “circumvent the immigration process.”

Khalil’s legal team immediately rejected the allegations, describing them as fabricated pretexts designed to silence a prominent critic of US and Israeli policies. His lawyers confirmed they will appeal the deportation order within the 30-day window allowed by law, though they acknowledged that such appeals are rarely successful given the structure of the US immigration system.

Arrest amid crackdown on Pro-Palestine activism

Khalil’s ordeal began earlier this year when immigration agents suddenly appeared at his student housing on Columbia University’s campus on March 8. His arrest came as part of a sweeping crackdown against student activism in support of Palestine across US universities. The Trump administration, echoing Israeli talking points, accused campus groups of fostering “anti-Semitism.” Several international students were either detained or expelled from the country during this campaign, while universities faced threats of losing federal funding if they allowed strong pro-Palestine voices to continue.

Khalil was detained for three months in an immigration facility in Louisiana until June, when US District Judge Michael Farbiarz ruled that his detention was unconstitutional. Farbiarz noted that the government’s arguments rested on vague accusations of “foreign policy risks” and failed to provide evidence that Khalil’s activism amounted to any form of extremism.

Nevertheless, Washington persisted. With its initial efforts to deport him on “national security” grounds collapsing in court, the administration pivoted to scrutinizing Khalil’s paperwork for technical faults. The claim that he omitted affiliations with humanitarian and activist organizations became the new basis for pursuing his deportation.

Criminalizing free speech

Khalil’s lawyers argue that the case illustrates how the United States uses its immigration system as a political weapon against dissidents, especially those opposing Israeli aggression. Judge Farbiarz had previously ruled that attempts to deport Khalil were likely a violation of his constitutional right to free speech. Yet, despite this ruling, the White House appears determined to continue pressuring courts to remove him from the country.

US Secretary of State Marco Rubio and other officials have attempted to frame Khalil’s peaceful advocacy for Palestine as support for Hamas, but no evidence has ever been presented to substantiate such claims. Instead, Khalil’s activism has centered on mobilizing student protests, calling for boycotts of Israel, and raising awareness of the humanitarian catastrophe in Gaza, activities that are widely recognized around the world as legitimate forms of protest.

In a statement shared by the ACLU, Khalil condemned the ruling, calling it an act of political revenge. “When their first attempt to deport me collapsed, they fabricated new allegations to silence me. These fascist tactics are designed to punish me for speaking out against the genocide in Gaza and for standing firmly with the Palestinian people,” he said.

A broader pattern of suppression

Khalil’s case is not isolated. Across the United States, universities and student organizations have faced escalating pressure from government agencies, donors, and pro-Israel lobby groups to suppress dissent. The repression highlights Washington’s deepening alignment with Tel Aviv, even as much of the world, including major powers like China, Russia, and India, condemns the ongoing bloodshed in Gaza and call for political solutions rooted in justice and sovereignty.

By targeting Mahmoud Khalil, the United States sends a chilling message: that advocating for Palestinian rights can come at the cost of one’s freedom and security. It also exposes the contradiction between Washington’s self-proclaimed role as a defender of free speech and its actual record of silencing those who challenge its strategic partnerships.

As the appeal process moves forward, Khalil’s fate remains uncertain. What is clear, however, is that his case has already become emblematic of Washington’s authoritarian tactics at home, reinforcing the global perception that the United States is increasingly intolerant of dissent, particularly when that dissent exposes the brutality of its allies.