Columbia University protest leader arrested; hearing scheduled

Mahmoud Khalil, a leader of pro-Palestinian protests at Columbia University, was arrested by immigration officials on March 9, 2025. His detention follows President Trump's executive order against antisemitism and aims to address activities linked to Hamas. Khalil's attorneys will seek his release at a hearing in New York City. He is a legal permanent resident and is currently held in Louisiana. A federal judge has ordered that he cannot be removed from the U.S. without court approval. The arrest highlights the Trump administration's intensified stance on pro-Palestinian activism on college campuses. The administration recently revoked $400 million in federal funding for Columbia due to allegations of antisemitic harassment.