A U.S. immigration judge has ruled that pro-Palestinian activist Mahmoud Khalil must be deported to either Algeria or Syria, citing allegations that he withheld key details on his green card application.
Louisiana-based Judge Jamee Comans stated that Mr. Khalil “willfully misrepresented material fact(s) for the sole purpose of circumventing the immigration process.”
“It is no surprise that the Trump administration continues to retaliate against me for my exercise of free speech,” said Khalil in a statement to the American Civil Liberties Union.
Attorneys representing the 30-year-old activist said they plan to challenge the ruling, noting that existing federal court orders still bar the government from detaining or deporting him.
Khalil, a U.S. permanent resident of Palestinian origin, gained prominence during the 2024 Gaza war demonstrations at Columbia University, where he was enrolled as a student.
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In March, Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) took Khalil into custody amid the Trump administration’s broader campaign targeting universities it accused of not addressing antisemitism. U.S. authorities alleged that Mr. Khalil had failed to disclose certain past affiliations on his immigration paperwork, including his involvement with Unwra, the UN agency supporting Palestinians, and his “continuing employment” at the British Embassy in Beirut.
Khalil, who was born in Syria and holds Algerian citizenship, spent three months in a Louisiana immigration detention center before a federal judge determined he posed no flight risk or danger to the public. On June 20, the court ordered his release.
During his detention, Khalil’s wife, a U.S. citizen, welcomed the birth of their son.
“When their first effort to deport me was set to fail, they resorted to fabricating baseless and ridiculous allegations in a bid to silence me for speaking out and standing firmly with Palestine, demanding an end to the ongoing genocide,” Khalil said in response to the recent decision.
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In June, Khalil’s legal team filed a $20 million lawsuit, claiming false imprisonment, malicious prosecution, and defamation through accusations of antisemitism.
Trump has consistently claimed that pro-Palestinian activists like Khalil back Hamas, which the U.S. classifies as a terrorist organization. He contends that such protesters should face deportation, describing Khalil’s arrest as “the first of many to come.”
Pro-Israel activists have claimed that Khalil played a leading role in Columbia University Apartheid Divest (CUAD), a student organization that called for the university to cut financial ties with Israel and push for a Gaza ceasefire.
Khalil’s involvement in Columbia’s 2024 protests brought him significant public attention. Acting as a mediator between university officials and participating students, he helped facilitate discussions during the demonstrations. He has denied leading the group, telling the Associated Press that his role was limited to serving as a spokesperson for the protesters and coordinating dialogue with the university.