LOS ANGELES.–Saying that it was OK to deport 30-year-old former Columbia University graduate student Mahmoud Khalil, a Louisiana-based immigration judge agreed with the Justice Department that Khalil represents a danger to U.S. foreign policy. Judge Amee Comans gave the Justice Department until Wednesday to make their case why Khalil presents a danger to U.S. national security. Khalil orchestrated the illegal encampment on Columbia University campus that created an intimidating environment for Jewish students expressing difficulty attending classes. Citing Section 237 of the Immigration and Nationality Act, Secretary of State Marco Rubio said it was OK to deport anyone who “would have potentially serious adverse foreign policy consequence for the United States.” Khalil repeats Hamas talking points that Israel is engaged in genocide in Gaza.
Khalil thinks because he held a Green Card he was entitled to mobilize pro-Palestine students at Columbia to express opposition to ongoing atrocities occurring daily in the Gaza Strip. Khalil repeats Hamas talking points that Israel engages in genocide, the systematic, organized and planned murder of Palestinians in the Gaza Strip. Khalil knows that Israel has fought a war with Hamas since the Oet. 7, 2023 massacre where Hamas killed over 1,200 Israelis and others and took over 250 hostages. Hamas refused to heed Trump’s warning to release all Israeli and U.S. hostages by Inauguration Day, Jan. 20, 2025, continuing to this date to hang on to living and dead Israeli hostages. Only 24 hostages are believe alive, with at least 34 already confirmed dead by Israeli authorities. Hamas refuses to release the remaining hostages using them as bargaining chips.
Khalil claims he’s a victim of political persecution for expressing his First Amendment rights to Free Speech. Rubio argued to immigration Judge Amee Comans that Khalil undermines U.S. foreign policy that seeks to remove Hamas from power in Gaza. Khalil treats Hamas and the commanding legal authority in Gaza, insisting they protect Palestinians from Israeli genocide. Rubio argued to Judge Comans that Khalil undermines the State Department policy of combating anti-Semitism. “Condoning anti-Semitic conduct and disruptive protests in the United States would severely undermine that significant foreign policy objective,” Rubio said in his brief to Judge Comans. Rubio said Khalil negotiate with Columbia officials to keep the pro-Palestine encampment on campus, seeking to get Columbia to divest any investments from Israel or its lobby groups.
Questions arise about whether Khalil omitted his background on his Green Card application, apparently working with United Nations Relief and Work Agency for Palestinian refugees [UNWRA]. Khalil insists he only worked as a volunteer for UNWRA before applying for a student visa to attend Columbia University. “This is the first arrest of many to come. We know there are more students at Columbia and other universities across the country who have engaged in pro-terrorist, anti-Semitic, anti American activities and the Trump administration will not tolerate it,” Trump said about Khalil’s case. If Khalil omitted relevant parts of his history that would show he worked for Hamas or any group closely tied to the terrorist organization it would be automatic grounds for deportation. Khalil’s attorney claims he’s the victim of political persecution for exercising his Free Speech rights.
Rubio wants to set the record straight for students applying for visas to attend American universities to study and pursue degrees. “We gave you a visa to come and study and get a degree, no to become a social activist that tears up our university campus,” Rubio said a press conference. “We’ve giving you a visa and you decide to do that—we’re going to take it away,” Rubio said, that the White House won’t tolerate foreign rabble rousers. In Khalil’s case, he turned ordinarily peaceful Columbia University into a hotbed of pro-Hamas, pro-Palestinian propaganda, making it difficult for Jewish students to attend classes. Khalil doesn’t distinguish between American Jews and Israelis conduction military operation in the Gaza Strip. Khalil thinks all Jews, wherever in the world, are responsible for Israeli government policies happening in the Palestinian territories.
American Civil Liberties [ACLU] Union slammed the Trump administration for violating the Free Speech rights of students attending American universities. “The federal government is claiming the authority to deport people with deep ties to the U.S. and revoke their green cards for advocating positions that the government opposes,” said the ACLU in a statement. “To be clear:: The First Amendment protects everyone in the U.S.. The government actions are obviously intended to intimidate and chill speech one side of a public debate,” diverting attention away from Kahlil’s past history and actions at Columbia. Does the ACLU think it’s OK to omit key facts in one’s overseas background on visa applications? Does the ACLU think that Khalil can hijack land for an illegal encampment on Columbia’s property, encouraging his backers to intimidate Jewish students on campus?
About the Author
John M. Curtis writes politically neutral commentary analyzing spin in national and global news. He’s editor of OnlineColumnist.com and author of Dodging The Bullet and Operation Charisma.
