NEW YORK — Mahmoud Khalil, a prominent Palestinian activist and former Columbia University graduate student, is one step closer to possible deportation after the Board of Immigration Appeals denied his recent effort to dismiss his case. The ruling, which Khalil anticipated, raises serious concerns over the treatment of dissenters in the current political environment.
Khalil's attorneys revealed that the Board issued its decision on Thursday, a verdict that remains unpublished. Their inquiries to the U.S. Department of Justice have gone unanswered. Khalil condemned the ruling as biased and politically charged, asserting, the only thing I am guilty of is speaking out against the genocide in Palestine. He believes the immigration system has been manipulated to target him for his activism.
As the first individual publicly identified in the federal crackdown targeting noncitizens vocal against Israel's actions, Khalil argues that his involvement in pro-Palestinian protests—denounced by the government as aligned with Hamas—has not correlated to any proven associations with terrorism. He firmly denies any allegations of antisemitism.
Khalil had previously endured 104 days in an immigration detention facility, during which he missed the birth of his first child. Following a federal judge's order, he was released, but the appeals court later deemed that the judge overstepped his authority, necessitating the case to proceed through immigration courts instead.
The legal team is currently seeking a reconsideration by the full appeals panel and has requested the recusal of one judge due to past affiliations with the Justice Department, which could indicate bias against Khalil's case.
Born in Syria to a Palestinian family, Khalil carries Algerian citizenship. He warned that deportation could lead to serious repercussions for his safety, expressing fears of potential targeting and violence in his home country.
