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The Board of Immigration Appeals has issued a final order of removal against Mahmoud Khalil, a former Columbia University graduate and prominent anti-Israel protest organizer, moving the Trump administration’s push to deport him one step forward. The decision was announced Thursday (April 9), after the board denied Khalil’s latest bid to dismiss his deportation case, according to his legal team.
Khalil, who is 31 and a legal permanent U.S. resident, became a focal point of a federal crackdown on noncitizens involved in anti-Israel protests following campus demonstrations related to the Gaza conflict. He was the first publicly known arrest in the effort, and was detained for 104 days last year, missing the birth of his first child before a federal judge ordered his release.
Khalil’s legal team argues that the decision is “baseless and politically motivated,” claiming the government is retaliating against him for his activism and speech. Khalil himself said in a statement that the only thing he is guilty of is “speaking out against the genocide in Palestine,” and called the board’s decision “biased and politically motivated.” He denies breaking any laws or being involved in antisemitism.
The Trump administration claims Khalil’s protest activity was “aligned with Hamas." Homeland Security cited a provision of immigration law related to foreign policy and alleged issues with Khalil’s green card application.
Despite the removal order, Khalil cannot be deported while a separate federal habeas case is ongoing. His attorneys are appealing the case to the Fifth Circuit and have requested one of the appellate judges recuse himself due to potential conflicts of interest. Khalil, originally from Syria and part of a Palestinian family, says he fears being targeted if deported.
The case continues to draw national attention as it moves through both the immigration and federal court systems. Final resolution may depend on the outcome of Khalil’s federal appeals and ongoing legal challenges.