Mahmoud Khalil, a Palestinian graduate student at Columbia University facing deportation under the Trump administration for his involvement in pro-Palestinian protests, described himself as a political prisoner on Tuesday in his first public statement since his arrest.
Khalil, a US permanent resident, has received widespread support from human rights organizations, which have condemned his detention as a violation of free speech and due process. More than 100 Democratic lawmakers in the US House of Representatives have challenged the legality of his arrest in a letter to Republican President Donald Trump’s administration.
According to Justice Department lawyers, Khalil, 30, is subject to deportation because Secretary of State Marco Rubio determined that his presence in the US could have “adverse foreign policy consequences.”
His case could set a legal precedent regarding the balance between the First Amendment’s protection of free speech for both citizens and non-citizens and the executive branch’s authority to regulate protests that could impact foreign policy.
“My name is Mahmoud Khalil, and I am a political prisoner,” Khalil declared in a letter released on Tuesday.
He stated that his arrest was a direct result of exercising his right to free speech in advocating for a free Palestine and condemning what he described as genocide in Gaza, referring to Israel’s renewed airstrikes that local authorities reported had killed over 400 Palestinians on Monday night.
Khalil’s attorneys have demanded his immediate release. He was granted US lawful permanent residency last year, and his wife is currently eight months pregnant.
His March 8 arrest has sparked demonstrations across multiple US cities, including a large protest in New York City’s Times Square on Tuesday, where hundreds called for his release.
President Trump has pledged to deport pro-Palestinian activists who participated in college protests against Israel’s military actions in Gaza following the October 2023 Hamas attack. He has accused such demonstrators of being antisemitic and supporting Hamas.
Pro-Palestinian activists, including some Jewish advocacy groups, argue that their criticism of Israel’s military campaign is wrongly equated with antisemitism and that their calls for Palestinian rights are being misrepresented as support for Hamas. In his letter, Khalil claimed his arrest reflected anti-Palestinian discrimination.
The government has not provided details on how Khalil’s presence threatens US foreign policy. Trump has alleged—without presenting evidence—that Khalil supports Hamas. His legal team insists he has no connections to the group.
