New york city: Palestinian activist Mahmoud Khalil has announced that he cannot be lawfully detained or deported while his immigration appeals are ongoing, following suggestions by a US official that he could be sent to Algeria. Khalil, a spokesperson for Gaza war protests at Columbia University and a legal US resident, expressed his stance in a video message posted to his Instagram account, stating that existing orders protect him from detention or deportation during the appeals process.

According to Anadolu Agency, Khalil was detained by Immigration and Customs Enforcement in 2025 and held for 104 days before a federal judge ruled the detention unconstitutional. However, an appeal won by the Trump administration earlier this month allows the case to proceed in immigration court. Khalil's legal team emphasized that he cannot be legally detained or deported until the conclusion of his appeals process.

A Louisiana immigration judge had previously ordered Khalil's deportation to Algeria or Syria, citing alleged misrepresentations on his green card application, which his lawyers deny. Khalil reiterated in his video message that the administration has yet to provide evidence of any crimes or unlawful conduct on his part. He stated his commitment to advocating for Palestinian rights, highlighting that his activism is the reason for the legal actions against him.

Tricia McLaughlin, assistant secretary for public affairs at the Department of Homeland Security, mentioned to NewsNation that deportation to Algeria is currently being considered for Khalil. Meanwhile, New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani defended Khalil, describing him as "a New Yorker" and criticizing the efforts to remove him as part of a broader attack on free speech, particularly against pro-Palestinian voices.