An immigration judge in the US has ordered the deportation of pro-Palestinian activist Mahmoud Khalil to either Algeria or Syria, over claims he omitted information from a green card application.
Judge Jamee Comans, based in Louisiana, stated Mr. Khalil wilfully misrepresented material fact(s) for the sole purpose of circumventing the immigration process.
In a statement to the American Civil Liberties Union, Mr. Khalil responded: It is no surprise that the Trump administration continues to retaliate against me for my exercise of free speech.
Mr. Khalil, a permanent US resident of Palestinian descent, was a prominent figure during the 2024 Gaza war protests at Columbia University, where he studied.
Lawyers for Mr. Khalil, 30, indicated they would appeal against the decision as separate federal court orders remain in effect, prohibiting the government from deporting or detaining him.
In March, Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) officials detained Mr. Khalil as part of the Trump administration's crackdown on universities it claims have failed to tackle antisemitism.
Born in Syria and a citizen of Algeria, Mr. Khalil was held in an immigration facility in Louisiana for three months until a federal judge ruled he posed no flight risk or threat to his community.
While detained, Mr. Khalil's wife, a US citizen, gave birth to their son.
The government's allegations against Mr. Khalil include claims that he left out details about his previous associations, which included membership of Unwra and employment at the British Embassy in Beirut.
Mr. Khalil accused the government of fabricating allegations to silence him for opposing ongoing genocide and advocating for Palestinian rights.
He also filed a claim for $20 million in damages for false imprisonment and being unfairly labeled as an antisemite.
Notably, Trump has claimed that pro-Palestinian activists support Hamas, further complicating the immigration landscape for activists like Mr. Khalil, who played significant roles in protests at Columbia University.
