NEW YORK (Diya TV) — The Trump administration plans to re-arrest and deport Mahmoud Khalil, a Syrian-born activist and former Columbia University graduate student, marking a major step in a long-running legal battle over his immigration status. Federal officials say Khalil is likely to be deported to Algeria, where he holds citizenship through family ties. The case has drawn national attention because it sits at the crossroads of immigration law, campus protests, and free speech rights. It also reflects the administration’s broader crackdown on anti-Israel demonstrations at U.S. universities.
Tricia McLaughlin, assistant secretary of homeland security for public affairs, said officials expect Khalil to be deported to Algeria. She made the remarks during an appearance on NewsNation’s “Katie Pavlich Tonight.” McLaughlin said Khalil’s case should serve as a warning to noncitizens living in the United States. She said visas and green cards are privileges, not rights. She added that foreign nationals must follow U.S. laws and respect the conditions of their stay.
Khalil holds a green card as a lawful permanent resident. He earned a degree from Columbia University and became a visible figure during protests on the Manhattan campus related to the Israel-Hamas war.
Federal authorities accuse Khalil of organizing and promoting campus encampments that turned violent. Officials also say some protests included rhetoric that supported Hamas, which the United States designates as a terrorist group.
Khalil has denied those claims. He has said he acted only as a spokesperson for protesters and did not support violence or terrorism. He argues that the government targeted him because of his political views and public advocacy for Palestinians. The administration has described Khalil as a Hamas supporter. Khalil has called those allegations baseless and politically motivated.
Early efforts to deport Khalil focused on a rarely used statute. That law allows officials to remove noncitizens if their presence harms U.S. foreign policy interests. Federal courts largely rejected that argument.
The government later shifted its focus. Officials now claim Khalil committed fraud on his green card application. According to court filings, Khalil failed to disclose prior work with the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East, known as UNRWA.
U.S. and Israeli officials have accused UNRWA of having ties to Hamas and other militant groups. Khalil also allegedly failed to disclose past employment with the British embassy in Syria. Federal authorities argue these omissions justify revoking his permanent resident status and deporting him.
On Jan. 15, the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Third Circuit issued a 2-1 ruling against Khalil. The panel dismissed his habeas petition challenging his detention by the Department of Homeland Security and Immigration and Customs Enforcement.
The ruling overturned a lower court order that had released Khalil from custody. Judges said his case should proceed through the immigration court system before he could pursue broader legal challenges. The decision gave the administration a significant legal victory. Soon after, McLaughlin urged Khalil to self-deport to avoid re-arrest and permanent removal.
ICE agents arrested Khalil in New York in March 2025. He spent about three months in an immigration detention center in Louisiana. During that time, he missed the birth of his first child.
In June, a federal judge in New Jersey ordered his release. The judge said the foreign policy justification for his detention likely violated the Constitution. That ruling did not stand after the appeals court decision. It remains unclear when ICE will attempt to detain Khalil again.
Khalil has continued to deny wrongdoing. He says the case punishes him for exercising free speech. He argues that his advocacy focused on ending the war in Gaza and supporting Palestinian rights. In July 2025, Khalil filed a $20 million claim against the Trump administration. He alleged wrongful detention and malicious prosecution.
