Khalil claims ICE unlawfully detained him for deportation

Mahmoud Khalil, a Columbia University activist facing deportation, claims his detention by ICE was unlawful. He filed a petition in federal court arguing there was no basis for his arrest at his university apartment on Saturday. Khalil, a lawful permanent resident, asserts that ICE agents ignored his immigration status during the arrest. This incident marks the first arrest linked to the anti-Israel protests at Columbia University that began last spring. His court filing accuses federal officials of targeting him for his activism and violating his First Amendment rights. Khalil leads a group advocating for divestment from Israel and has been involved in various campus protests.