The White House reportedly sought information regarding the arrest of Mahmoud Khalil, a pro-Palestinian activist and green card holder, who was detained by Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) this week. According to Khalil's legal team, he overheard federal agents mentioning that the White House requested updates on his detention.
Samah Sisay, an attorney from the Center for Constitutional Rights representing Khalil, stated at a press conference that Khalil was surrounded by individuals he believed to be Department of Homeland Security (DHS) agents. During a phone call, he allegedly heard one agent mention the White House's interest in his case. Sisay suggested that multiple executive branch members, including those in the White House, were involved.
Khalil participated in protests at Columbia University, advocating for the university to sever ties with Israel. Ramzi Kassem, director of CLEAR and Khalil's representative, emphasized that Khalil's aim was solely to push for Columbia's divestment from Israeli activities in Gaza and the West Bank.
Neither the White House nor Columbia University immediately commented on the situation. Columbia University, however, issued a statement affirming its commitment to supporting its community and upholding its values.
The Trump administration accused Khalil of distributing pro-Hamas flyers, though no evidence was provided. White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt claimed to have received these flyers from DHS, but Khalil's legal team dismissed these allegations as baseless.
Khalil's attorneys are working on a motion to have him returned to New York, hoping for a court decision soon. They argue that Khalil's transfer to a remote Louisiana prison shortly after filing a habeas petition was a deliberate attempt to disrupt New York court jurisdiction.
In the weeks before his arrest, Khalil expressed concerns for his safety due to increased harassment and doxing of Columbia students supporting Palestinian rights. Attorney Amy Greer highlighted the frequent social media posts targeting these students and tagging various government agencies.
Khalil's legal team accused the Trump administration of retaliating against him for his activism, asserting that his speech is protected under the First Amendment. Brian Hauss from the ACLU argued that the administration's interpretation of terrorism support laws is overly broad and unconstitutional, emphasizing that independent advocacy, even if supportive of a foreign organization, is protected speech.
Hauss also noted that the First Amendment protects non-citizens' speech, pointing out that Khalil is a U.S. permanent resident. He criticized the administration for using Khalil's case to deter other non-citizens from speaking out on controversial issues.
Secretary of State Marco Rubio announced plans to revoke visas and green cards of Hamas supporters in the U.S., but Khalil's attorneys denied any connection between him and Hamas, maintaining that his activism is focused on Palestinian rights.
Hauss warned that if the administration can target Khalil for his views on Palestine, it could similarly target any non-citizen expressing opinions on other global issues. DHS spokesperson Tricia McLaughlin stated Khalil's detention was in line with President Trump's orders against anti-Semitism, claiming Khalil led activities associated with Hamas.