Mahmoud Khalil seeks Supreme Court reviewSupreme Court review of deportation fight
Mahmoud Khalil, a former Columbia University student and pro-Palestinian activist, is asking the US Supreme Court to intervene after a federal appeals court ruling opened the door to his re-arrest and deportation.
The case, reported on May 22 and May 23, 2026, centers on whether the government can use immigration powers against him after his campus activism, making it a closely watched test of free speech and executive authority.
Khalil and Supporters
Khalil says the case is retaliation for his advocacy for a free Palestine and an end to the war in Gaza. His supporters argue that detaining him over political speech would chill protest activity and punish protected expression.
US Government
The administration says it is enforcing a lawful removal order and that Khalil should leave the country voluntarily. Its position is that immigration law, not politics, is driving the case.
- The Supreme Court hears only a tiny fraction of the cases petitioned each year.
- Immigration detention can continue while legal appeals are still moving through the courts.
- Columbia’s New York campus has often been a stage for major student demonstrations.
Israel-Lebanon War
Israel and Hezbollah have agreed to a 60-day ceasefire that mandates Israeli troop withdrawal from southern Lebanon while the Lebanese army deploys across all border crossings and the south.
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