US Government Accuses Palestinian Activist of Withholding Information on Visa Application, Seeks Deportation
Background on the Case
Protesters at UC Berkeley hold signs in solidarity with detained Palestinian activist Mahmoud Khalil, opposing the Trump administration. (AP pic)
In a recent development, the US government has accused Columbia University student and pro-Palestinian demonstrator Mahmoud Khalil of withholding information on his visa application, citing this as grounds for deportation. The allegations were made in a court brief filed by the US government on Sunday.
Khalil’s Background and Detention
Khalil, a native of Syria and citizen of Algeria, entered the US on a student visa in 2022 and later filed to become a permanent resident in 2024. He is a prominent figure in the pro-Palestinian campus protests that rocked the New York City campus last year. The administration of US President Donald Trump detained Khalil on March 8 and sent him to Louisiana in an attempt to remove him from the country.
Allegations of Withholding Information
The US government has accused Khalil of withholding that he worked for a UN Palestinian relief agency in his visa application. The UN agency, known as UNRWA, provides food and healthcare to Palestinian refugees and has become a flashpoint in the Israeli war in Gaza. Israel contends that 12 UNRWA employees were involved in Hamas’ attack on Israel on October 7, 2023, leading the US to halt funding of the group.
Free Speech Concerns
The case has drawn attention as a test of free speech rights, with supporters of Khalil saying he was targeted for publicly disagreeing with US policy on Israel and its occupation of Gaza. Khalil has called himself a political prisoner.
Government’s Arguments
The US government has argued that Khalil’s presence or activities in the country would have serious foreign policy consequences. A judge has ordered Khalil not to be deported while his lawsuit challenging his detention, known as a habeas petition, is heard in another federal court.
Rebuttal from Khalil’s Attorneys
Attorneys for Khalil did not immediately respond to a request for comment. However, one attorney, Ramie Kassem, a co-director of the legal clinic CLEAR, was quoted in the New York Times as saying the new deportation grounds were "patently weak and pretextual." Kassem stated that the government’s motivation from the start was to retaliate against Khalil for his protected speech in support of Palestinian rights and lives.
Conclusion
The case of Mahmoud Khalil has sparked concerns over the limits of free speech and the targeting of individuals for their political beliefs. As the legal battle continues, it remains to be seen whether the US government’s accusations will stand, and whether Khalil will be able to return to his studies at Columbia University.
FAQs
Q: What is the background of Mahmoud Khalil?
A: Khalil is a native of Syria and citizen of Algeria who entered the US on a student visa in 2022 and later filed to become a permanent resident in 2024.
Q: What is UNRWA, and how is it involved in the case?
A: UNRWA is a UN agency that provides food and healthcare to Palestinian refugees and has become a flashpoint in the Israeli war in Gaza. Israel contends that 12 UNRWA employees were involved in Hamas’ attack on Israel on October 7, 2023, leading the US to halt funding of the group.
Q: What are the implications of this case for free speech rights?
A: The case has drawn attention as a test of free speech rights, with supporters of Khalil saying he was targeted for publicly disagreeing with US policy on Israel and its occupation of Gaza.