An immigration appeals board has denied Mahmoud Khalil's latest bid to dismiss his deportation case, reports Associated Press, a largely expected ruling that brings the former Columbia University graduate student to re-arrest and possible expulsion.
“The only thing I am guilty of is speaking out against the genocide in Palestine — and this administration has weaponized the immigration system to punish me for it,” said Khalil in response.
According to Fox News, Khalil’s lawyers claims that the ruling was “baseless and politically motivated,” claiming that there is no record of support. Furthermore, they say they will continue to fight.
Despite leading anti-Israel protests at Columbia University, Khalil denies claims of antisemitism. Meanwhile, the Trump administration says that Khalil's role as a leader of pro-Palestinian protests at Columbia were "aligned to Hamas."
Khalil became a high-profile hero of the Left during the federal crackdown on noncitizens who publicly criticized Israel for responding to the October 2023 Hamas massacre of more than 1200 Israeli men, women and children.
It was also discovered that Khalil withheld information from his green card application. He didn’t disclose he was a part of the anti-Israel coalition on campus, Columbia University Apartheid Divest, or had an internship with the Palestine relief organization connected to the U.N.
Ira Mehlman is media director for the Federation for American Immigration Reform (FAIR).
"Obviously, it is a very good ruling. It indicates, first of all, that if you lie on your applications, that basically voids out whatever visa you came on or an application for a green card," Mehlman states.
And he says that, clearly, Khalil did that.
"He was a front man for terrorist organizations. He applied to come to the United States as a student under false pretenses. He applied for a green card under false pretenses, and the administration acted correctly,” Mehlman states. “They moved to deport him, and we are one step closer to this saga finally coming to an end.”
