Mahmoud Khalil

Mahmoud Khalil, born in 1995, is an Algerian national of Palestinian heritage, raised within a Palestinian refugee camp in Damascus, Syria. His family was displaced from Tiberias, Israel. Now a permanent resident of the United States, Khalil holds a green card. He completed his undergraduate studies in computer science at the Lebanese American University before embarking on a diverse career in international development, notably with the UK’s Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office.

In 2023, Khalil commenced his master's degree in public administration at Columbia University's School of International and Public Affairs (SIPA). The same year marked a significant turning point as he became actively engaged in pro-Palestinian activism amidst the outbreak of the Gaza war. During his time at Columbia, he was involved in the notable pro-Palestinian demonstrations on campus in 2024.

However, Khalil's journey took a troubling turn when, on March 8, 2025, he was taken into custody by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents, who acted on directives from the State Department to revoke his student visa. Despite being a lawful permanent resident, the agents attempted to revoke his green card instead. Following his detention at LaSalle Detention Center in Louisiana, U.S. District Judge Jesse Furman intervened on March 10, 2025, to halt the deportation process, allowing the case's constitutionality to be evaluated by the courts. Judge Furman subsequently extended the injunction on March 12, 2025, following a hearing in Manhattan federal court.