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Released Pro-Palestinian Activist Mahmoud Khalil Speaks Out
In his first interview since being released from Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) custody on Friday, Columbia University activist Mahmoud Khalil spoke with ABC News Live Prime anchor Linsey Davis about his ordeal and his unwavering commitment to Palestinian human rights.
Khalil, a green card holder who faces a deportation threat under the Trump administration, remains defiant. “No threat will deter me,” he stated emphatically in the interview aired Monday.
“No one should stay silent when people are being killed.” Khalil helped lead protests at Columbia University against Israeli military actions in Gaza during the 2023-2024 academic year.
These protests were a focal point of President Trump’s 2024 campaign, with the president vowing to “crush” what he called hotbeds of antisemitism.
When asked what he would say to President Trump, Khalil responded, “He vowed to set the Palestinian movement back 20 years. But what he did to me actually advanced the cause of Palestinian liberation.”
Khalil, 30, was detained on March 8th in his New York apartment, becoming the first high-profile pro-Palestinian activist detained by ICE under the Trump administration. He described the experience as feeling “kidnapped,” saying ICE “made it clear that you have no rights whatsoever.”
Born and raised in a refugee camp near Damascus, Khalil became a refugee again in Lebanon during the Syrian civil war before moving to Algeria, where he holds citizenship. He was accepted to Columbia University in 2020 but deferred his enrollment until 2022 due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
The activist’s detention meant he missed the birth of his son, Deen, to his American wife, Dr. Noor Abdalla.
He was finally able to meet his son on May 22nd while still in custody. Khalil described missing his son’s birth as “the most cruel thing any administration would do.”
He cherished his first night home, saying he couldn’t sleep and was hyper-aware of his son’s every expression.
The Trump administration justified Khalil’s detention by arguing he posed a risk to U.S. foreign policy, citing alleged distribution of pro-Hamas flyers and creating a hostile environment for Jewish students. Khalil denied these accusations, calling them baseless attempts to portray him as violent and a terrorist. He emphasized that the Palestinian movement rejects all forms of racism, including antisemitism.
A judge issued a preliminary injunction on June 11th barring the administration from detaining Khalil on national security grounds. However, the government then argued he misrepresented information on his green card application, leading to an additional week of detention. Khalil denied these allegations as well.
Judge Michael Farbiarz ultimately ordered Khalil’s release on bail, stating the government failed to demonstrate any risk. The Department of Homeland Security criticized the judge’s decision, arguing that an immigration judge, not a district judge, held the authority in this matter.
While acknowledging a “very long fight ahead,” Khalil remains resolute. He believes the administration is trying to make an example of him, but he insists their threats will not silence him.