Judge Rules Trump Can Deport Columbia Student Mahmoud Khalil

An immigration judge ruled on Friday that Mahmoud Khalil, a graduate student at Columbia University known for his pro-Palestinian activism, can be deported from the United States.

Khalil has been a prominent figure in pro-Palestinian activities on campus. His case emerges during a period of intense focus on university protests nationwide and concerns about antisemitism, efforts that gained prominence during the Trump administration.

According to the ruling by Immigration Judge Jamee Comans, Khalil has until April 23rd to seek legal relief. He is permitted to stay in the U.S. until that deadline passes. If no relief is granted, Judge Comans indicated an order for deportation would follow, potentially to Syria, his country of birth, or Algeria, where he holds citizenship.

Marc Van Der Hout, Khalil's lawyer, strongly criticized the decision. In a statement, he said Khalil was "subject to a charade of due process, and a weaponization of immigration law to suppress dissent."

Khalil was deeply involved in the leadership of Columbia's pro-Palestinian encampment. The government's case reportedly positioned him as someone whose actions contributed to disruptive activity on campus.

The legal basis for the deportation ruling is an infrequently used federal law: Section 237(a)(4)(C) of the Immigration and Nationality Act. This statute allows for the deportation of non-citizens (including students on visas or lawful permanent residents) if the Secretary of State determines their presence would have "serious adverse foreign policy consequences" for the United States.

Secretary of State Marco Rubio invoked the statute, who argued that his campus activities could conflict with U.S. foreign policy goals, such as efforts to combat global antisemitism.