LOS ANGELES.–Injured in a “crowd surge” at Columbia University’s Butler Library, two security officers were caught pro-Palestinian protests continuing to plague the Ivy League university.  Known for a tolerant approach for campus protesting, Columbia tolerated months of pro-Palestinine encampments before eventually letting the New York Police Department [NYPD] clear out the encampments May 1, 2024 led by 29-year-old Syria-born Palestinian with Algerian citizen Mahmoud Khalil. Khalil was picked up by Immigration, Customs and Enforcement [ICE] March 8, 2025 for instigating the pro-Palestinian encampments at Columbia University.  Columbia tolerated Egyptian-born former President Minouche Safik, allowing Khalil to operate illegally on the campus for months.  Minouche was eventually fired Aug. 8, 2024 for her complicity in illegal pro-Palestine protests.

            Khalil’s high-profile presence as a chief student negotiator with Columbia administration put a target on his back, eventually detained by ICE March 8, 2025, continuing to battle with legal representation in the federal courts.  Secretary of State Marco Rubio, 53, told a federal immigration judge in Louisana that Khalil was a threat to U.S. foreign policy, asking for a deportation order.  Khalil’s attorneys claim he was not given due process because ICE detained him without a warrant, claiming they revoked his J-1 student visa.  Actually, Khalil had a green card due to marriage to American-born dentist Noor Adalla, so it complicates the government’s case to deport him without a sufficient due process.  Khalil can do nothing for his fellow pro-Palestine protesters that occupied Butler Library before the NYPD arrested all the protesters May 7.  About 60-70 protesters were detained.

            Trump administration ordered $400 million in federal funds withheld from Columbia for violations of civil rights of Jewish students. During Khalil’s reign as pro-Palestine student activist he and his followers made life on Columbia University campus intolerable for Jewish students, all because they were Jewish.  Immigrants like Khalil don’t respect the U.S. Constitution’s guarantee of religious freedom, all part of the First Amendment, but are the first to protest their First Amendment rights to Free Speech.  Jewish students at Columbia or any other university in the U.S. or abroad have nothing to do with Israeli policy toward Hamas or any other Palestinian group.  Yet Khalil had no problems holding Jews accountable for the policy of the Israeli government.  Columbia’s interim President Claire Shipman is in full compliance with Trump administration policies.

            Khalil couldn’t fathom that Jews have been an integral part of America since Colonial Days, considering all Jews enemies of Palestine.  Khalil and other Palestinians mark Jews the same way as Nazi Germany, they’re all subject to murder wherever they’re found. New York City Deputy Mayor  Kaz Daughtry said 60-70 pro-Palestinian protesters were removed from Butler Library and arrested.  Columbia officials said the protesters refused to identify themselves as Columbia students or outside protesters.  “Due to the number of individuals participating in the disruption inside and outside of the building, a large group of people attempting to force their way into Butler Library creating a safety hazard, and what we believe to be a significant presence of individuals  not affiliated with the University. Columbia has taken the necessary step of requesting the presence of NYPD to assist in securing the building,” Shipman said.

              Shipman was very careful the way she worded the request of NYPD to clear out trespassers from the Columbia University campus.  Shipman wanted to let students know that she respected the First Amendment rights of protesters but she drew the line when it came to an illegal occupation of Columbia property.  When Khalil was in charge of the Columbia University pro-Palestine encampment, he was equally in disregard of illegally occupying Columbia University property.  “As I’ve said repeatedly, New York City will always defend the right to peaceful protest, but we will never tolerate lawlessness,” said Mayor Eric Adams.  “To our Jewish New Yorkers, especially students at Columbia who feel threatened or unsafe attending class because of these events, know that your mayor stand with you and will always work to keep you safe,” Adams said.

            Columbia University acting President Claire Shipman is now in full compliance with Trump White House guidelines for pro-Palestine protests.  She will likely receive all the $400 million in withheld federal funding, kept from Columbia when it was out of compliance with federal law.  Whatever Adams past problems, he’s certainly stepped up to do and say all the right things in compliance with federal laws. Trump helped keep Adams from facing legal actions connected to his work as New York City mayor.  When it comes to rabble rousers like Mahmoud Khalil, he could very well find a legal remedy for his ICE detention.  But as Rubio says, he represents a threat to current U.S. foreign policy when it comes to Palestine and the Gaza War. Instead of staging protests in Palestine where there is no Free Speech, immigrants like Khalil like to hide behind the First Amendment.

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.