**US Student Activist Detained by Immigration**
A student activist from Columbia University in New York City has been detained by immigration authorities. Mahmoud Khalil, a Syrian-born student, was arrested on Saturday and informed that his student visa and green card were being revoked.
According to his lawyer, Amy Greer, Mr. Khalil had been taken into custody as part of the Trump administration’s efforts to combat antisemitism. The Department of Homeland Security stated that he “led Hamas-aligned activities”. However, Mr. Khalil’s attorney claims that this is an unfair characterization and that her client was simply a student who expressed his views peacefully.
**Background**
Last year, Columbia University was the site of nationwide student protests against the war in Gaza as well as US support for Israel. Mahmoud Khalil served as the lead negotiator for one of these groups, known as Apartheid Divest. Some students also took over an academic building before being arrested by police.
**Reaction**
Marco Rubio, Secretary of State, posted a statement on X saying that visas and green cards would be revoked from Hamas supporters living in America. Donald Trump had previously announced plans to stop federal funding to universities that allowed “illegal protests”.
Jacob Hamburger, a visiting assistant professor at Cornell Law School, said that detaining lawful permanent residents for protesting was highly uncommon.
**Details of Detention**
Mr. Khalil’s wife visited him on Sunday but he was not present. An online locator indicated that he had been taken to a holding facility in Louisiana, rather than New Jersey as initially thought. His attorney is seeking his release and says that her client is married to a pregnant American citizen.