Columbia protest leader faces deportation after arrest

Mahmoud Khalil, a Palestinian activist and former Columbia University student, was arrested by federal immigration agents and is facing deportation. His arrest is linked to President Trump's executive orders against antisemitism, although he has not been charged with a crime. Khalil's lawyer stated that agents initially sought to revoke his student visa but later targeted his green card status. He is currently detained in Louisiana, and it is unclear when he will have an immigration court hearing. Columbia University has issued guidance on federal authority access to campus, emphasizing that ICE agents generally need a warrant. Khalil's arrest marks the first known deportation effort under the Trump administration's crackdown on student protests related to the Gaza conflict.