Mahmoud Khalil, a Columbia University protestor who was detained, is accused by federal authorities of concealing his connections to a controversial United Nations agency that assists Palestinian refugees when applying for his visa.
In recent court documents filed by the Department of Justice, lawyers have leveled fresh charges against Khalil, who led protests at Columbia University, asserting that these offenses should be grounds for his removal from the country.
Khalil, a green-card holder, was arrested by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents in New York on March 8. The government claims he falsely sought to change his immigration status while omitting details about his “membership in certain organizations.”
Among the groups he allegedly failed to disclose was the UN Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees (UNRWA), which has been embroiled in controversy after a report revealed that some of its members were involved in Hamas’ attack on Israel on October 7, 2023. This led to significant cuts in U.S. funding to the agency.
From June to November 2023, Khalil worked as a political affairs officer for UNRWA, according to the government.
The DOJ also claims Khalil did not disclose his position at the Syria Office in the British Embassy in Beirut, Lebanon, or his membership in Columbia University’s Apartheid Divest, a group that organized protests against Israel.
Khalil’s detention has sparked widespread debate over the issue of free speech. His legal team argues that his deportation is politically motivated, asserting that his activism should be protected under the First Amendment.
Despite this, federal officials contend that Khalil’s alleged misrepresentation on his visa application provides an “independent basis” for his deportation, overriding any First Amendment protections.
The filing further dismissed Khalil’s free speech argument, claiming it is a distraction from the real issue.
The government argued that free speech does not supersede the executive branch’s authority over immigration decisions.
Khalil, a 30-year-old Palestinian Syrian citizen of Algeria, initially entered the U.S. in December 2022 on a student visa to study for a master’s degree in public administration at Columbia University.
In 2024, after marrying U.S. citizen Noor Abdalla, who is eight months pregnant with their child, Khalil applied to adjust his status to permanent resident.
Currently detained in a Louisiana immigration facility, Khalil is seeking his release, arguing his arrest was unlawful. He also requests a transfer to a detention facility in New Jersey or New York to be closer to his pregnant wife and his legal team in the city.
His deportation case must go through immigration court before the government can take further steps. His attorneys have indicated they will file a response to the charges by Tuesday afternoon.
Marc Van Der Hout, Khalil’s immigration attorney, criticized the new charges, calling them “completely meritless.”
He argued that the government’s case against Khalil is baseless, insisting that it is entirely about First Amendment rights. Van Der Hout emphasized, “This case is purely about First Amendment protected activity and speech, and U.S. citizens and permanent residents alike are free to say what they wish about what is going on in the world.”
In addition, Khalil is suing Columbia University, Barnard College, and Rep. Tim Walberg (R-Mich.) of the House Committee on Education and the Workforce to prevent the release of disciplinary records of students involved in antisemitic protests to Congress.
On Monday, Walberg’s legal team responded, asserting that a judge does not have the authority to intervene in this matter.
The court filing stated, “Nothing in the Constitution requires duly-elected Members of Congress to sit idly by as a wave of antisemitism sweeps over our nation’s college campuses, leading to discrimination against Jewish students at institutions of higher education receiving billions of dollars in federal funds.”
{Matzav.com}The post Mahmoud Khalil Hid Ties To UNRWA On Green Card Application, Feds Say As They Hit Anti-Israel Agitator With New Accusations first appeared on Matzav.com.