A federal immigration appeals board has rejected the latest challenge by Palestinian activist Mahmoud Khalil to stop his deportation proceedings, moving the former Columbia University graduate student closer to potential removal from the United States.
The Board of Immigration Appeals delivered its final removal order Thursday, Khalil’s legal team confirmed. The board’s decisions remain confidential, and the U.S. Department of Justice has not responded to requests for comment.
Khalil expressed no shock at the outcome, describing the decision as “biased and politically motivated.” His legal representatives maintain he cannot be legally held or removed while his separate federal court case continues.
“The only thing I am guilty of is speaking out against the genocide in Palestine — and this administration has weaponized the immigration system to punish me for it,” Khalil stated.
The immigration appeals board establishes legal precedent within the complex immigration court framework, which operates under Department of Justice oversight and faces growing Trump administration influence.
The 31-year-old permanent resident became the first publicly identified individual arrested during federal enforcement actions targeting non-citizens who voiced criticism of Israel and its Gaza operations.
Federal authorities allege Khalil’s leadership role in Columbia’s pro-Palestinian demonstrations was “aligned to Hamas.” However, no evidence linking him to the designated terrorist organization has been disclosed, and Khalil strongly rejects any antisemitism accusations.
Following his March arrest, Khalil remained in immigration detention for 104 days, causing him to miss his first child’s birth, until a New Jersey federal judge ordered his release.
Khalil’s federal case suffered a major blow this year when a U.S. appeals court ruled the New Jersey judge exceeded his jurisdiction by ordering the release. The 2-1 panel decision determined that immigration court proceedings must conclude before federal court challenges can proceed.
His attorneys have petitioned the complete appeals panel to review that ruling. This month, they also requested one appellate judge’s recusal due to his former position as a senior Justice Department official who participated in student protest investigations.
Born in Syria to Palestinian parents, Khalil obtained Algerian citizenship through family connections. He warns that deportation could expose him to persecution and potentially fatal consequences.
