Mahmoud Khalil was arrested by ICE due to allegations that his activities were aligned with Hamas, a designated terrorist organization. He was involved in leading protests against Israel at Columbia University.

A federal judge has temporarily blocked Mahmoud Khalil's deportation, pending a court review of his case. A hearing is scheduled to discuss the petition challenging his arrest.

The Trump administration claims that Khalil's activities are pro-Hamas and anti-Semitic, stating that such actions are contrary to U.S. national interests. They also assert that they will not tolerate support for terrorist organizations on U.S. campuses.

Khalil's arrest has raised concerns about the suppression of free speech and civil rights, particularly in the context of protests related to Palestine. Critics argue that the government is using immigration enforcement to chill dissent and target specific viewpoints.