Trump Administration Moves to Deport Columbia Student After Gaza Protest Involvement, Judge Rules Beliefs Are a “Security Threat”

The Trump administration is moving forward with the deportation of Columbia University graduate student Mahmoud Khalil, just weeks after his arrest sparked national protests and raised concerns over the government’s targeting of foreign students.

A Louisiana immigration judge ruled Friday that Khalil, 30, could be removed from the U.S., agreeing with the administration’s claim that his beliefs pose a national security threat.

Khalil, who had been active in campus protests against the war in Gaza, was detained by federal agents on March 8th at his university housing in New York City. Since then, he’s been held at a detention center in Louisiana while his legal team pushes back against the government’s claims.

Although the ruling clears the way for deportation, Khalil has until April 23rd to request legal relief. A separate federal court in New Jersey has also temporarily blocked his removal, allowing his legal fight to continue, for now.

His legal team slammed the ruling as politically motivated and accused the Trump administration of using immigration law to punish dissent.

For now, the future of the Palestinian-born student remains uncertain. Still, his case is drawing national attention as a symbol of growing tensions between political activism and immigration enforcement in the U.S. under Trump’s leadership.