Mahmoud Khalil, a Columbia University graduate and legal permanent U.S. resident, appealed to the Supreme Court on Monday to prevent his deportation following his arrest by ICE agents amid pro-Palestinian campus protests. His case has become a high-profile example of the Trump administration’s crackdown on dissent, with officials alleging his activism spreads antisemitism and undermines foreign policy goals. Khalil, who earned his master’s degree from Columbia in March 2025 before his arrest, denies antisemitism and argues that criticism of Israel is not inherently hateful.
The government cited a rarely used statute allowing the Secretary of State to expel foreigners deemed detrimental to national interest, a move a district court judge initially ruled likely unconstitutional. Although Khalil was released, the Trump administration continued pursuing deportation, leading to legal battles across courts. The U.S. Court of Appeals for the Third Circuit recently cleared the way for his re-arrest, prompting Khalil’s Supreme Court appeal.
If the Court allows the appeals court decision to stand, it could remove a key obstacle to his deportation, though broader legal challenges may persist. The justices will decide whether to hear the case, with potential oral arguments in spring and a ruling by late June or early July. Khalil maintains the deportation effort violates his free speech rights, while the administration insists the case belongs in immigration court, not federal court.
His lawyers argue federal courts must retain authority to review constitutional challenges to punitive detention, warning against weaponizing immigration to punish dissent.
Source: New York Times Top Stories · Summarized by HeadlinesBriefing