New York City: Mahmoud Khalil, a Palestinian activist and Columbia University graduate, has spoken publicly for the first time since being released after more than three months in US immigration detention, denouncing his arrest as 'a kidnapping' and pledging to continue his advocacy work.
According to Anadolu Agency, Khalil, 30, recalled the March 8 incident when plainclothes immigration officers arrested him in the lobby of his New York City apartment building. Khalil expressed that it felt like a kidnapping, stating, 'There are no rights in such situations.' A US permanent resident, Khalil had spent 105 days in a detention center in Jena, Louisiana, before being released on bail after a federal judge's ruling questioning the constitutionality of the law used to detain him.
Court documents reveal that Khalil was never charged with a crime. Instead, the Trump administration utilized a mid-20th-century statute, alleging that his leadership in pro-Palestinian protests undermined US foreign policy. The Department of Homeland Security and the White House claimed Khalil's actions endangered Jewish students and incited antisemitism, allegations that were not substantiated in court. White House spokeswoman Abigail Jackson emphasized that the issue was not about free speech but about individuals siding with Hamas without the right to be in the United States. Khalil denied expressing support for Hamas, stating that he was advocating for an end to genocide.
Born in a Syrian refugee camp, Khalil fled to Lebanon at 18 and later moved to the US to study computer science, eventually enrolling at Columbia in January 2023. His campus activism intensified after the Gaza war's start in October 2023, leading to his prominent role in organizing protests and becoming a target for right-wing organizations. During his detention, Khalil shared a crowded room with over 70 men and was troubled by concerns for his pregnant wife, Noor Abdalla. He was denied permission to attend their son's birth on April 21, expressing regret over the lost family time.
Khalil used his detention period to aid fellow inmates, translating questions and assisting in communications with authorities. He read books like Viktor Frankl's "Man's Search for Meaning" and Silky Shah's "Unbuild Walls" to maintain hope. His release followed US District Judge Michael E. Farbiarz's determination that the law used to detain him was constitutionally questionable. Despite the administration's ongoing efforts to deport him, Khalil stated that the experience had strengthened his resolve, reinforcing his belief in the righteousness of his cause.