The U.S. government has accused Mahmoud Khalil, a Columbia University student and pro-Palestinian activist, of failing to disclose his previous employment with a United Nations Palestinian relief agency on his visa application—an omission they argue warrants deportation.
Khalil, a Syrian-born citizen of Algeria, entered the United States on a student visa in 2022 and later applied for permanent residency in 2024. He was detained on March 8 and transferred to Louisiana as part of the government’s effort to remove him from the country.
UNRWA Employment and Visa Allegations
The U.S. alleges that Khalil failed to disclose his work as a political officer for the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees (UNRWA) in 2023. The agency, which provides food, healthcare, and education to Palestinian refugees, has faced heightened scrutiny after Israel accused 12 UNRWA staff members of participating in the October 7, 2023, Hamas attacks—an allegation that prompted the U.S. government to suspend funding to the agency.
The government’s court brief, filed Sunday, also claims Khalil withheld details about working for the Syria office of the British embassy in Beirut and his involvement with Columbia University Apartheid Divest, a student group advocating divestment from companies linked to Israel’s occupation of Palestinian territories.
Legal Battle and Free Speech Concerns
A federal judge has temporarily blocked Khalil’s deportation while his legal team pursues a habeas petition—a legal challenge arguing his detention violates constitutional rights.
Khalil’s attorneys assert that the deportation attempt is politically motivated, targeting him for his pro-Palestinian views. Ramie Kassem, a co-director of the Clear legal clinic representing Khalil, called the new deportation claims “patently weak and pretextual” and argued the government’s actions are retaliation for Khalil’s protected speech.
The U.S. government contends that Khalil’s activities pose serious foreign policy concerns, a charge that could strengthen its case for removal under immigration law.
As the legal proceedings unfold, Khalil remains in custody, with a final decision pending from the U.S. District Court in New Jersey.
