Columbia activist faces deportation over protest involvement

A Manhattan court heard the case of Mahmoud Khalil, a Columbia University graduate facing deportation for his involvement in protests against Israel. The judge allowed Khalil's lawyers to challenge the deportation order. Khalil, a legal permanent resident, is the first to be targeted under President Trump's initiative to deport foreign students linked to last year's Gaza protests. Trump’s administration claims Khalil's actions make him deportable, though he has not been accused of terrorism. Critics argue that Khalil's deportation violates free speech rights. The case has drawn attention to Columbia University, which recently lost $400 million in federal funding amid the controversy.