Palestinian activist Mahmoud Khalil’s wife reveals details of arrest, urges support for his release |

The arrest of Mahmoud Khalil, a Palestinian activist and Columbia University graduate student, has triggered widespread protests and a legal challenge, with his green card status becoming a key focus.

Khalil, who holds a green card allowing permanent residency in the United States, was detained by US Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents following allegations of supporting Hamas, a designated terrorist organisation.

The arrest, which took place on Saturday night, follows President Donald Trump’s promise to target activists he associates with terrorism.

Trump stated that Khalil’s arrest was the first in a series of actions against individuals deemed to pose a national security threat. The Trump administration’s executive orders prohibiting anti-Semitism were cited in connection with Khalil’s detention, though no specific evidence linking him to criminal activity has been presented.

Khalil’s wife, who is eight months pregnant, expressed distress over his detention, urging supporters to rally for his release. Protests were held across the United States, with demonstrators calling for the immediate release of Khalil. At the heart of the protests is concern over the Trump administration’s broader immigration strategy, which critics argue is an effort to stifle dissent and target political activism.

A habeas corpus petition was filed in court to challenge Khalil’s detention and potential deportation. A judge from the Southern District of New York temporarily blocked Khalil’s deportation, ordering that he remain in the US pending further legal proceedings. However, his status as a green card holder is now under scrutiny, with immigration experts raising questions about the Trump administration’s intentions.

Experts argue that Khalil’s arrest may signal a shift in US immigration policy, particularly in how the government treats lawful permanent residents involved in political activism. Although green card holders generally enjoy the same rights as US citizens, they can be deported for criminal activity or if their actions are deemed a threat to national security.

As the legal battle continues, Khalil’s lawyer, Amy Greer, maintains that there is no evidence of wrongdoing and that the arrest is politically motivated. Khalil’s legal team is fighting to prevent the deportation, citing concerns over the potential violation of First Amendment rights.

The situation has sparked a broader debate over immigration, civil rights, and the government’s increasing use of executive power to target specific groups, particularly activists critical of US foreign policy.

In a statement released on Tuesday, Khalil’s wife described the events leading to his arrest, revealing that the couple had just returned from an Iftar dinner when they were confronted by Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents. She expressed the emotional trauma of the event, stating that instead of preparing for their child’s arrival, she was left wondering when her husband would be able to contact her from detention.

Khalil’s wife said that agents did not show a warrant and took her husband away in an unmarked vehicle. The couple had previously expressed concerns about potential threats to Khalil, including what his wife described as a “targeted doxxing campaign.”

Despite reaching out to a Columbia University official for legal assistance, the response was reportedly insufficient.

Several universities, including UCLA and Stanford, have held walkouts, while rallies have been held in cities such as New York and Chicago.

As the legal battle continues, Khalil’s wife has called for urgent action, pleading for her husband’s release so that he can be present for the birth of their child. “I need your help to bring Mahmoud home, so he is here beside me, holding my hand in the delivery room,” she said.

She added: “My husband, Mahmoud Khalil, is my rock. He is my home and he is my happy place. I am currently 8 months pregnant, and I could not imagine a better father for my child. We’ve been excitedly preparing to welcome our baby, and now Mahmoud has been ripped away from me for no reason at all … The last week has been a nightmare …I am pleading with the world to continue to speak up against his unjust and horrific detention by the Trump administration.”