Lawyers for a prominent pro-Palestinian protest leader on Friday petitioned US immigration authorities to stop their efforts to deport him, alleging that the Trump administration had secretly orchestrated the outcome of his case. The request was filed with the Board of Immigration Appeals (BIA), a body within the US Department of Justice.
Background of the Case
Mahmoud Khalil, a former graduate student at Columbia University in New York, emerged as a key figure in pro-Palestinian demonstrations on campus during the height of the Gaza war. In March 2025, he was arrested by undercover federal agents, marking one of the first detentions of a foreign national linked to pro-Palestinian activism in the United States. The Trump administration sought his deportation, arguing that his activities were detrimental to US foreign policy, sparking a prolonged legal battle. Although Khalil was released from custody in June 2025, he has remained under the threat of deportation.
Allegations of Secret Engineering
In a statement, Khalil's lawyers asserted, 'New evidence reveals that the Trump Administration secretly engineered the outcome of his immigration case to make an example of him.' They claim that the BIA improperly influenced the lower immigration court's decision, fast-tracked proceedings, bypassed normal channels for docketing and adjudicating appeals, and reached a decision in an unprecedented nine days. On April 9, 2026, the BIA dismissed Khalil's challenge and issued a final removal order.
Khalil's legal team argues that he cannot be legally detained or deported while other legal orders are pending appeal. 'The administration wants to arrest, detain, and deport me to intimidate everyone speaking out for Palestine across this country, and they are willing to violate longstanding US rules and procedures to do it,' Khalil said.
No Response from Authorities
The Executive Office for Immigration Review, which oversees the BIA, did not respond to a request for comment from AFP. The development adds a new chapter to a case that has drawn significant attention from free speech and immigrant rights advocates.
