Arrest of Mahmud Halil (2025)

The detention and deportation proceedings of Mahmud Halil’, who played an active role in pro-Palestine protests at Columbia University, encompass legal institutional and political developments in the ABD.

Mahmud Halil’s Identity and Protests at Columbia University

Mahmud Halil was born in a Palestinian refugee camp in Syria. His ethnic background is Palestinian and he holds Algerian citizenship. He entered the United States in 2022 on a student visa and began a graduate program at Columbia University’s School of International and Public Affairs. As of 2025 he completed his academic program. Halil is a lawful permanent resident of the United States with a green card. His wife Noor Abdalla is a U.S. citizen.

Throughout 2024 Halil played an active role in organizing various student protests at Columbia University against Israel’s military operations in the Gaza Strip. He participated in planning and executing these demonstrations served as a mediator between student groups and university administration and coordinated tent encampments and sit-in actions. Protesters’ demands included the university divesting from companies linked to Israel calling for a ceasefire in Gaza and halting disciplinary proceedings against Palestinian students.

Mahmud Halil – Columbia Daily Spectator

Detention Process

Mahmud Halil was detained on March 8 2025 at his student residence in Manhattan by ICE agents as he and his wife entered their home. According to statements by his lawyer ICE officers did not present identification and threatened Halil’s wife Noor Abdalla with arrest. Halil was initially transferred to a detention facility in New Jersey and later moved to the LaSalle Immigration Detention Center in Jena Louisiana.

The detention occurred following statements by U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio that “visas and green cards of Hamas supporters would be revoked.” Halil’s lawyers stated that no charges were brought against their client and described his detention as resembling a “kidnapping.” Halil’s student visa and lawful permanent residency status were revoked by ICE.

Protests demanding the release of Mahmud Halil in New York March 16 2025 – Anadolu Agency

Legal Proceedings

Transfer to Detention Center

During Halil’s transfer to the LaSalle Detention Center in Louisiana his lawyers and family members were not notified. In a letter written from detention Halil described himself as a “political detainee” and stated that his conditions were inadequate and that he was deprived of legal protections. His lawyers informed the court that they had been unable to maintain consistent communication with him.

Hearings and Court Process

Halil’s first hearing could not be held in New York due to restrictions on physical access. The main hearing took place on April 9 2025 at the LaSalle Immigration Court in Jena Louisiana. Immigration Judge Jamee Comans ordered the U.S. government to submit evidence justifying Halil’s deportation within 24 hours. Due to intense public interest approximately 600 people attempted to connect to the hearing remotely causing technical delays. Halil’s wife Noor Abdalla requested to participate in the hearing via video conference.

Government Evidence Submission

The U.S. government presented to the court only a two-page opinion letter signed by Secretary of State Marco Rubio as the basis for Halil’s deportation. The letter claimed that Halil’s presence “undermined efforts to combat antisemitism” and created a “hostile environment for Jewish students.” The legal foundation cited was Section 237 of the Immigration and Nationality Act. Halil’s lawyers stated that no other concrete evidence was provided that his actions fell within the bounds of lawful protest and that no criminal charges had been filed against him.

Political and Institutional Responses

Trump Administration Policies

Halil’s detention was viewed within the broader context of the Trump administration’s policy of deporting international students involved in protests. As part of this approach federal funding to institutions such as Columbia University was suspended and universities were pressured to impose disciplinary sanctions on protesters. A protocol was developed to allow ICE agents access to Columbia University’s campus property with restrictions limiting such access to “compelling circumstances.”

One of the protests demanding the release of Mahmud Halil – Anadolu Agency

Columbia University and Public Opinion

Following Halil’s detention Columbia University students faculty and public figures issued statements of support. Protests held outside the university building carried slogans such as “Free Halil” and “Hands Off Our Students.” Public reactions extended beyond campus boundaries with prominent individuals joining demonstrations. Protest marches demanding Halil’s release were held in various cities across the United States beginning March 8.

During this period Halil filed a lawsuit alongside seven other Columbia University students against the House Committee’s request for personal information of students involved in protests. The lawsuit argued that such requests posed a risk of privacy violations and that the data could be misused.

Personal Statements

In a letter written during his detention Halil stated that his conditions lacked both physical and legal safeguards. Describing himself as a “political detainee” he framed the experience not merely as personal but as a historical and identity-based struggle. He referenced the 1948 Nakba to emphasize the continuity of Palestinian identity and asserted that the “struggle for full freedom” is a moral obligation.

Case Outcome

On April 11 2025 Immigration Judge Jamee Comans announced she would decide whether Mahmud Halil’s deportation would proceed. If the government’s evidence is found insufficient the case is expected to be dismissed and Halil released. Halil’s legal representatives stated they would appeal any adverse ruling. Additionally a separate habeas corpus case filed in New Jersey to assess the legality of his detention remains ongoing.

Final Court Ruling: Approval of Deportation Request

On 7 April 2025, Immigration Judge Jamee Comans, who handles immigration cases in the state of Louisiana, issued a ruling in the deportation case against Mahmud Halil. Judge Comans found the government’s request for Halil’s deportation to be justified, ruling that the relevant indictment provided sufficient legal grounds for the action. The basis for the deportation was Halil’s leadership in pro-Palestine protests at Columbia University, which led to his arrest.

The court’s ruling came after approximately one month following Halil’s arrest on 8 March 2025 and his subsequent transfer to an ICE detention facility in Louisiana. Halil’s attorneys have been granted the right to file an appeal against this ruling by 23 April 2025. Following the ruling, the deportation process may proceed according to standard immigration procedures.

This ruling concerning Halil has been assessed not only as an individual case but also in conjunction with similar actions taken against other international students arrested during the same period on comparable grounds. Numerous civil society organizations, educational institutions, and some politicians across the United States have issued statements condemning the treatment of Halil and similar cases.

Protest in Support of Mahmud Halil in New York (13 April 2025)

Protest in support of Mahmud Halil in New York, 13 April 2025 - Anadolu Agency

On 13 April 2025, a mass protest was held at Times Square in New York City, United States, demanding the release of Palestinian undergraduate student Mahmud Halil. Demonstrators gathered in support of Halil carried banners reading “Freedom for Halil” and “Hands off our students”.

Protest in support of Mahmud Halil in New York, 13 April 2025 - Anadolu Agency

Despite rainy weather conditions, the protest drew thousands of participants. Among them was Palestinian-American activist Linda Sarsour. During the event, speakers repeatedly called for Halil’s immediate release.

Ruling of the Newark Federal Court

On 11 June 2025, Judge Michael Farbiarz of the Newark Federal Court in New Jersey ruled that the documents submitted by the United States federal government were insufficient to justify the deportation of Mahmoud Khalil. The ruling stated that Khalil’s detention by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) or his potential deportation would be inconsistent with constitutional protections, given that he was arrested for participating in pro-Palestine demonstrations at Columbia University.

Judge Farbiarz noted in his decision that Khalil’s academic career and personal reputation had suffered irreparable harm during this process, that his freedom of expression had been curtailed, and that this situation could lead to irreversible consequences. Based on these findings, the court ordered the termination of the enforcement proceedings. The court also announced that the ruling would not take immediate effect, granting the government until 09:30 on Friday, 14 June 2025, to respond to the order.

This ruling was issued as part of a separate federal lawsuit challenging the deportation order issued against Khalil on 12 April 2025 by an immigration court in Louisiana.