Key Points:
- Mahmoud Khalil, a Palestinian activist and Columbia University graduate, released from ICE custody after over 100 days.
- Greeted at Newark Airport by supporters and Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, who denounced his detention as political persecution.
- Khalil pledges to continue his pro-Palestinian advocacy despite ongoing deportation threats by the Trump administration.
A Defiant Return Amid Cheers and Support
Mahmoud Khalil, a 30-year-old Palestinian activist and recent Columbia University graduate, returned to New Jersey on Saturday after being released on bail from U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) custody. He had spent more than 100 days detained as the Trump administration pursued his deportation over his outspoken pro-Palestinian activism.
Arriving at Newark Liberty International Airport, Khalil was met with cheers, ululations, and a sea of supporters — including his wife, baby, and U.S. Representative Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez. Holding flowers and visibly moved, Khalil declared, “If they threaten me with detention, even if they would kill me, I would still speak up for Palestine.”
Khalil became a prominent figure in student protests last year, criticizing Israeli policies and advocating for Palestinian rights at Columbia University. His arrest in the lobby of his Manhattan apartment on March 8 marked what many consider the beginning of the Trump administration’s crackdown on international students involved in pro-Palestinian activism.
“The fact that I’m here sends a message,” Khalil said during a press conference. “All these attempts to suppress pro-Palestine voices have failed. My existence is a message. The Palestinian existence is a message.”
Political Fallout and Legal Battle Ahead
The U.S. government, citing a rarely used clause in immigration law, argued that Khalil and other foreign students critical of Israel posed a threat to U.S. foreign policy interests. Secretary of State Marco Rubio invoked this clause to justify deportation proceedings, a move not seen in over two decades.
Khalil, who was born in a Palestinian refugee camp in Syria and gained U.S. permanent residency last year, has not been charged with any crime. His supporters argue his detention was a clear violation of his First Amendment rights. Representative Ocasio-Cortez, speaking beside Khalil at the airport, called the detention “persecution based on political speech” and “an affront to every American.”
“Because Mahmoud Khalil is an advocate for Palestinian human rights, he has been accused baselessly of horrific allegations,” she said. “This is a fundamental violation of constitutional freedoms.”
The Board of Immigration Appeals is expected to review Khalil’s deportation case in the coming weeks. Meanwhile, Khalil remains firm in his stance: “I just want to go back and continue the work I was already doing — advocating for Palestinian rights. That speech should be celebrated, not punished.”
His legal team, led by the Center for Constitutional Rights, hailed his release as a symbolic victory, though they cautioned that the broader fight for free political expression remains far from over.