Demonstrators gathered outside the US Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) headquarters in Washington, DC, on Saturday, demanding the release of Palestinian activist Mahmoud Khalil. Khalil, a green card holder and recent Columbia University graduate, was instrumental in organising campus protests last year.
Protesters later marched through the streets, chanting slogans such as, “We want justice, you say how. Free Mahmoud Khalil now!” and “Free all the students today.” Banners reading “Free Palestine,” “Release Mahmoud Khalil,” and “ICE off our campuses” were prominently displayed.
Similar demonstrations took place in New York City, where activists first gathered in Times Square before marching toward Columbus Circle. Organizers condemned Khalil’s detention, emphasising that his right to protest is protected under the First Amendment.
“Targeting Mahmoud Khalil isn’t just about him—it’s an attack on everyone who dares to stand up for justice,” one protester remarked.
Khalil was arrested by ICE agents on March 8 at his university-owned apartment after US Secretary of State Marco Rubio ordered the revocation of his student visa and green card. The Trump administration has accused him of engaging in “activities aligned with Hamas,” though no supporting evidence has been provided. He is currently being held at an ICE detention center in Louisiana.
President Donald Trump defended the arrest, calling it “the first of many” as his administration intensifies its crackdown on persons who participated in protests against Israel’s genocide on Gaza. Since October 2023, the genocide has resulted in the deaths of over 48,500 Palestinians.
On Friday, Rubio announced that more student visas could be revoked in the coming days.
A video released by Khalil’s legal team captured the moment federal agents arrested him in his apartment lobby. The footage shows him calmly complying while his wife, Noor Abdalla, an American citizen who is eight months pregnant, repeatedly asks the agents for information about his whereabouts. One agent, when pressed to identify himself, responded, “We don’t give our names.”
Khalil’s attorneys argue that his arrest is politically motivated, calling it part of a broader effort to suppress pro-Palestinian activism in the US, as reported by Anadolu.
