Mahmoud Khalil — the pro-Palestinian activist and green card holder detained by Immigration and Customs Enforcement this week — mentioned he overheard federal brokers say that the White Home was asking for an replace on his detention, his attorneys mentioned.
“He was surrounded by many DHS brokers, or folks he believed to be DHS brokers, and he believes that he noticed or heard, throughout a name, one in all them say that the White Home desires an replace on what is going on on,” Samah Sisay, a workers lawyer on the Heart for Constitutional Rights who’s representing Khalil, mentioned at a press convention Friday.
“We’ve got each cause to consider, as we allege within the petition, that many individuals inside the government department of the federal government had been concerned, together with the White Home,” Sisay mentioned.
Khalil took half in scholar protests at Columbia College calling for the establishment to divest and reduce ties with Israel, and he participated in negotiations with college administration.
“His one and solely aim was to get Columbia College to divest from its complicity with Israeli authorities crimes in Gaza and the West Financial institution,” mentioned Ramzi Kassem, the director of CLEAR, a gaggle representing Khalil.
An individual holds placards, forward of a listening to on the detention of Palestinian activist and Columbia College graduate scholar Mahmoud Khalil, in New York Metropolis, Mar. 12, 2025.
Shannon Stapleton/Reuters
The White Home and Columbia College didn’t instantly reply to ABC Information’ request for remark.
Columbia College mentioned in an announcement Thursday, “We’ll proceed to work to help our neighborhood, together with defending the privateness of our college students, throughout this difficult time and we stay steadfastly dedicated to our values and our mission.”
The Trump administration has claimed that Khalil distributed “pro-Hamas propaganda fliers with the emblem of Hamas,” with out offering proof.
“I’ve these fliers on my desk, they had been supplied to me by the Division of Homeland Safety,” White Home press secretary Karoline Leavitt mentioned.
“All of this discuss of flyers is simply nonsense, there is no such thing as a reality to it in any way,” Kassem mentioned.
Khalil’s attorneys mentioned their briefing on the movement to compel the federal government to return Khalil to New York needs to be completed by early subsequent week. His attorneys hope the decide will decide someday subsequent week.
“Mahmoud was moved throughout a number of state strains and subsequently transferred to a distant jail in Louisiana hours after submitting his habeas petition, an intentional and retaliatory act and an try and intrude with the jurisdiction of the New York court docket,” Sisay mentioned.
Within the weeks main as much as his arrest, Khalil mentioned he had been fearing for his security as he and different Columbia College college students advocating for the rights of Palestinians skilled elevated doxing and harassment, his attorneys mentioned.
Protestors rally in help of Mahmoud Khalil outdoors of the Thurgood Marshall Courthouse, throughout a listening to relating to Khalil’s arrest, in New York Metropolis, Mar. 12, 2025.
Charly Triballeau/AFP by way of Getty Photos
“It is like an nearly every day prevalence the place Twitter, social media posts exhibiting pictures of scholars, figuring out the place they’re positioned, the place they dwell, who they’re related to, whereas tagging ICE, whereas tagging DHS, whereas tagging the president, tagging the Secretary of State,” Amy Greer, an lawyer with Dratel & Lewis who’s representing Khalil, mentioned Friday.
“He is genuinely fearful that what’s occurred to him will occur to others,” Greer mentioned.
Khalil’s attorneys accused the Trump administration of retaliating in opposition to Khalil for his protests and activism in help of Palestinians arguing his speech is protected by the First Modification.
“The Trump administration is taking a very broad and unconstitutional view of how the fabric help for terrorism legal guidelines apply in these contexts,” Brian Hauss, a senior workers lawyer on the ACLU, mentioned on the press convention.
Mahmoud Khalil speaks to members of media concerning the Revolt for Rafah encampment at Columbia College throughout the ongoing battle between Israel and the Palestinian Islamist group Hamas in Gaza, in New York Metropolis, U.S., June 1, 2024. REUTERS/Jeenah Moon/File Picture
Jeenah Moon/Reuters
“The Supreme Courtroom was very clear in a case referred to as Holder vs Humanitarian Legislation Challenge that the federal materials supported terrorism legal guidelines don’t apply to unbiased advocacy, even when that advocacy is explicitly supportive of a overseas designated terrorist group, say an announcement saying, ‘I help Hamas,’ if that assertion will not be coordinated with a overseas designated terrorist group it’s protected by the First Modification,” Hauss mentioned.
The First Modification additionally protects the liberty of speech of people who aren’t Americans, Hauss mentioned. Khalil is a everlasting resident of the U.S.
“Trump administration is punishing Mr. Khalil for his speech about Palestine. It’s silencing him, and it’s setting him up for instance to relax the hundreds of thousands of inexperienced card holders and different non-citizens across the nation from saying something which may draw President Trump’s ire. That’s textbook First Modification retaliation,” Hauss mentioned.
Secretary of State Marco Rubio mentioned Sunday on X that the division “will likely be revoking the visas and/or inexperienced playing cards of Hamas supporters in America to allow them to be deported.”
Khalil’s attorneys have denied that Khalil has any ties to Hamas and mentioned his activism has been in help of Palestinian rights.
Hauss added, “If the administration can do that to Mr. Khalil due to his speech about Palestine, it may well do it to any non-citizen who takes a place on scorching button world points, together with the struggle between Russia and Ukraine, the tariffs being imposed in opposition to U.S. allies, or the rise of far proper political events in Europe.”
DHS spokesperson Tricia McLaughlin mentioned Khalil was detained by ICE “in help of President Trump’s government orders prohibiting anti-Semitism.”
“Khalil led actions aligned to Hamas, a chosen terrorist group,” McLaughlin said in a statement Sunday night.
