Columbia University Student Protestor Arrested

On March 8, the Trump administration arrested Columbia University student Mahmoud Khalil for his pro-Palestinian activism. Khalil was in the U.S. legally and posses a "green card", which the administration indicates has been revoked. As of today (March 11), it is reported that Khalil is in a detention facility in Jena, Louisiana, and a New York federal judge has blocked his deportation pending review.

CNN provides a good overview of Khalil's arrest and current status.

Judge temporarily blocks effort to deport Palestinian activist who helped lead Columbia student protests | CNN

A federal judge in New York has blocked any efforts by President Donald Trump’s administration to deport Mahmoud Khalil, a Columbia university graduate and Palestinian activist who was arrested Saturday night until a conference Wednesday, according to court documents.

CNNAlaa Elassar, Priscilla Alvarez, Gloria Pazmino, Michelle Watson

Numerous organizations have registered opposition to Khalil's arrest including FIRE, ACLU, Human Rights First, and a growing number of Jewish groups. There is no doubt Khalil's arrest will have a chilling effect on free speech, and could lay the groundwork for deporting any non-citizen who dares to disagree with a government position or policy.

Steve Vladeck provides an excellent overview of the legal framework behind Khalil's arrest and pending deportation. Vladeck addresses what he sees as the five key questions surrounding Khalil's case: where it will be resolved; the legal basis for his arrest; the legal basis for his deportation; the First Amendment implications; and is this really who we want to be as a society.

131. Five Questions About the Khalil Case

The government’s arrest and detention of a pro-Palestinian Columbia student (and green card holder) raises difficult questions about both technical immigration statutes and the First Amendment.

One FirstSteve Vladeck

"If anything is anti-American, it’s threatening non-citizens who are in this country legally and have committed no crimes with the specter of being arrested, detained, and removed for doing nothing more than speaking up on behalf of unpopular causes—even, if not especially, unpopular causes with which many of us may well disagree."

Source tags: FIRE, ACLU, Human Rights First, Steve Vladeck, CNN