In Video: U.S. lodges new accusations against Mahmoud Khalil 

Faculty Floods Columbia University Campus in Protest of Administrators’ Response to Detention of Graduate Student

Professors and Researchers Blast University Leaders for Caving to Demands of President Trump in Exchange for Federal Funding

New York, NY – In a stunning show of solidarity, the faculty of Columbia University flooded the campus today to protest the administration’s handling of the detention of graduate student and Palestine activist, Mahmud Khalil. The move comes as the university’s leaders are accused of caving to the demands of President Trump in order to secure federal funding.

A Pattern of Crisis: Detention and Deportation of a Foreign National

The crisis began earlier this month when federal agents arrested and detained Mr. Khalil, a green card holder and Palestinian activist, on allegations of leading activities aligned with Hamas. The University has since stood by his arrest, citing the Secretary of State’s power to deport individuals deemed to have "serious adverse foreign policy consequences for the United States."

However, Mr. Khalil’s legal team has consistently denied the allegations, arguing that his activities were constitutionally protected speech and advocacy on behalf of Palestinian human rights. The University’s actions have been met with widespread condemnation from the academic community, with many faculty members calling for his immediate release.

New Allegations of Fraudulent Application

In a surprise move, the Justice Department yesterday filed new allegations against Mr. Khalil, accusing him of fraudulently misrepresenting his membership in certain organizations on his permanent residency application. The allegations include his affiliation with the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees, the Palestinian Delegation to the United Nations, and his employment by the Syrian Office in the British Embassy in Beirut. The University has remained silent on the matter, fueling accusations of complicity with the Trump administration.

Faculty Protest

In response, hundreds of Columbia University faculty members, including professors and researchers, took to the streets today to protest the administration’s decision to cooperate with the Trump administration. The march, which was attended by students, staff, and local organizations, decried the detention and deportation of Mr. Khalil as an affront to academic freedom and a violation of the constitutional rights of a U.S. permanent resident.

"A Pattern of Repression"

"We are not just marching for Mahmud, we are marching for the values of academic freedom, for the protection of all individuals, regardless of their origin or beliefs," said Antonia Hilton, a professor of Middle Eastern Studies at Columbia University. "The administration’s actions are a pattern of repression, meant to silence voices of dissent and undermine the very fabric of our university community."

The Road Ahead: A Battle in Two Courts

As the protests continue, Mr. Khalil’s legal team is set to take on the Trump administration in two separate courts: the Immigration Court in Louisiana and the Federal Court in New Jersey. The outcome of these cases will determine the course of Mr. Khalil’s fate and the future of academic freedom in the United States.

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