On Monday, Mahmoud Khalil’s legal team released footage from the moments before his March arrest, claiming it undermines the government’s assertion that he posed a flight risk—allegedly justifying his detention without a warrant. Khalil, a Columbia University activist and Syrian-born green card holder, has been held in a Louisiana detention center for over two months. This arrest marked the beginning of a broader crackdown on student protests regarding the Gaza conflict, as promised by the White House.
The five-minute, silent video was obtained through a subpoena and shows Khalil calmly interacting with four ICE officers in his apartment building’s lobby while on a phone call with his attorney. His wife, Dr. Noor Abdalla, was fetching his green card when the officers arrived. The footage captures Khalil appearing cooperative, even laughing at times with the ICE agents, thereby contradicting earlier government claims that he was uncooperative and intended to flee.
Earlier court filings indicated that the ICE agents allowed Abdalla to retrieve the green card, believing it would negate the necessity for arrest. Lawyers for Khalil contend this video highlights that ICE’s actions were unconstitutional and politically motivated, as Khalil has not faced any criminal charges but is targeted for his pro-Palestinian activism.
Despite maintaining their stance that Khalil’s beliefs align him with Hamas—considered a terrorist organization—the legal battle continues. An immigration judge previously ruled that Khalil’s views threaten national security, while a federal court has allowed him to continue fighting for his freedom. His attorneys assert they will persist in their efforts to secure his release.
Note: The image is for illustrative purposes only and is not the original image associated with the presented article. Due to copyright reasons, we are unable to use the original images. However, you can still enjoy the accurate and up-to-date content and information provided.
