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Protests exploded in New York City after a federal judge ruled that Mahmoud Khalil, a pro-Palestinian activist tied to Columbia University protests, can be deported. The decision sparked angry demonstrations in Times Square and Union Square, with protesters chanting slogans and blocking traffic. Police arrested several people, including a 25-year-old charged with obstructing government operations.
The Trump administration targeted Khalil under a rarely used law allowing deportation of noncitizens deemed harmful to U.S. foreign policy. Secretary of State Marco Rubio accused Khalil of fueling antisemitism by leading protests that made Jewish students feel unsafe. Supporters claim he’s being punished for free speech, but officials argue he crossed a line by aligning with Hamas, a terrorist group.
Khalil’s case has become a flashpoint in the broader crackdown on campus antisemitism. The White House has stripped $400 million from Columbia, citing failure to protect Jewish students. Over 300 student visas have been revoked nationwide, with plans to expand deportations of activists. Critics call this authoritarian, but the administration insists it’s defending national security and Israel’s interests.
Protesters rallied outside courthouses and Gracie Mansion, accusing Mayor Adams of abandoning free speech. Khalil’s pregnant wife, a U.S. citizen, pleaded for his release. His lawyers called the ruling a “charade” and vowed to appeal. Meanwhile, the judge gave them until April 23 to file paperwork delaying deportation to Syria or Algeria.
The Heritage Foundation’s Project Esther blueprint guided these policies, urging harsh measures against pro-Palestinian groups. The plan labels protesters as Hamas sympathizers and pushes for deportations, visa bans, and defunding universities. Liberals counter with the Nexus Project, which claims Trump exploits antisemitism fears to suppress dissent.
Khalil’s arrest highlights the administration’s hardline stance. Federal agents snatched him from his NYC apartment, flying him to a Louisiana detention center 1,400 miles away. He’s not charged with crimes but faces civil immigration violations. His speeches at Columbia criticized Israel’s Gaza campaign, drawing cheers from activists and condemnation from conservatives.
Rubio’s two-page memo sealed Khalil’s fate, arguing his protests harmed U.S. efforts to combat antisemitism. The judge accepted this without requiring additional evidence, sparking outrage. Free speech advocates warn this sets a dangerous precedent, but Trump allies say it’s necessary to stop campuses from becoming hate hubs.
The battle now shifts to federal courts, where Khalil’s team fights for his release. The outcome could affect hundreds of international students. As protests grow, the administration remains defiant, vowing to purge “anti-American” elements from universities. For conservatives, this is a long-overdue reckoning. For liberals, it’s an assault on civil liberties.
