Rubio confirms ICE arrest of pro-Palestinian Columbia student protest leader

Secretary of State Marco Rubio has confirmed the arrest of Mahmoud Khalil, a green card-holding Columbia University graduate student and pro-Palestinian activist, by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE).

“We will be revoking the visas and/or green cards of Hamas supporters in America so they can be deported,” Rubio said on the social platform X, sharing a news report regarding Khalil.

Khalil was arrested at his university residence Saturday, according to the Student Workers of Columbia labor union.

The union describes Khalil as a “lead negotiator” and called on Columbia to reinstate its “Sanctuary Campus Policy” after reports of ICE accessing multiple buildings at the school Friday and Saturday.

Tricia McLaughlin, a spokesperson for the Department of Homeland Security, also confirmed Khalil’s arrest in a statement Sunday to The Associated Press, describing the move as “in support of President Trump’s executive orders prohibiting anti-Semitism.”

The arrest raises serious constitutional questions, as Khalil is a legal permanent resident who has not been charged with any crime. Only an immigration judge has the authority to revoke a green card.

Amy Greer, Khalil's attorney, told the AP she informed ICE agents of his immigration status, only to be told they were acting on State Department orders to revoke his student visa.

“By allowing ICE on campus, Columbia is surrendering to the Trump administration’s assault on universities across the country and sacrificing international students to protect its finances. We call on faculty, staff, postdocs, students, and all other workers at Columbia University to stand against the administration’s cooperation with the Trump administration,” the student labor union said, as thousands have signed a petition for the release of Khalil.

The focus on Columbia University comes after the Trump administration canceled $400 million of federal contracts with the school over its alleged inaction against antisemitism on campus.

Students at Columbia took the lead in the nationwide pro-Palestinian encampments last spring that led to almost 2,000 arrests across the country.

After reports of ICE on campus, Columbia University said it requires law enforcement to have a judicial warrant to enter nonpublic parts of campus and will "continue to follow the law."

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