Immigration judge finds that Columbia University activist Mahmoud Khalil can be deported

Khalil, an international affairs graduate student, had served as a negotiator and spokesperson for student activists at Columbia University during protests last spring to condemn Israel’s military campaign in Gaza.

He is not accused of breaking any laws during the protests, but the Trump administration has decided to deport non-citizens who participate in such protests and express views deemed “antisemitic” or “pro-Hamas” by the federal government.

Immigration Judge Jamee E. Comans said the administration's contention that Khalil’s presence in the United States posed “potentially serious foreign policy consequences” was enough to satisfy requirements for his deportation. The government had “established by clear and convincing evidence that he is removable,” he noted.