The Trump administration has cited foreign policy grounds to justify the attempted deportation of Columbia University graduate student Mahmoud Khalil, submitting a two-page memo signed by Secretary of State Marco Rubio rather than presenting evidence of criminal activity.
Khalil, a legal permanent resident and former spokesperson for campus protests opposing Israel’s actions in Gaza, was arrested March 8. The government’s memo argues that Khalil’s presence undermines U.S. policy to combat antisemitism, despite acknowledging his actions were “otherwise lawful.”
Khalil’s attorneys say the memo confirms the case is about his political views, not national security. No evidence of links to Hamas or criminal conduct has been presented. The memo also references, but does not include, a “subject profile” and a Homeland Security letter.
Khalil, born in Syria and married to a U.S. citizen, is detained in Louisiana while awaiting a hearing. His arrest and the broader crackdown on campus activism have drawn criticism as a suppression of free speech under the guise of combating antisemitism.
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