Former UNRWA staffer arrested in New York protests

Mahmoud Khalil, a former employee of the UK office for Syria and UNRWA, was arrested by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) last weekend. He is currently in custody facing deportation after leading anti-Israel protests at Columbia University. Khalil, a permanent U.S. resident, previously held a senior position at the UK embassy in Beirut and worked with the UN agency for Palestinian refugees. He became prominent in protests following the Israel-Hamas conflict, advocating for Palestinian rights. His lawyers argue that his detention violates his First Amendment rights and is retaliation for his activism. The Trump administration claims his actions contradict U.S. national interests, although he has not been charged with a crime.