Well, it looks like there are actual consequences for supporting terrorism under the Trump administration. What a concept!
Mahmoud Khalil, a former Columbia University student and lead activist in last spring’s anti-Israel protests, just got an unexpected visit from ICE over the weekend, and let’s just say, it wasn’t to hand him a participation trophy. Instead, federal agents reportedly detained him at his fancy university-owned apartment in Manhattan, and now the activist groups that cheered him on are demanding his release. Because, of course, they are.
According to reports, Khalil is being held at a detention facility in New Jersey, and there’s a good chance this all ties back to the new “Catch and Revoke” initiative—an effort spearheaded by Secretary of State Marco Rubio to boot foreign nationals who align themselves with terrorist organizations like Hamas. An official made it crystal clear: if you’re here on a visa and you’re using your time in America to promote terrorism, don’t get too comfortable. The Trump administration isn’t going to let anti-American, pro-Hamas activists take up space in this country indefinitely.
Before coming to Columbia University for grad school – where he led the pro Hamas rallies on campus – Mahmoud Khalil “was a political affairs officer with UNRWA.”
But of course he was. https://t.co/iYxr6LT9g2
— Joel M. Petlin (@Joelmpetlin) March 9, 2025
Naturally, Khalil’s attorney and the left are outraged, calling the arrest a “clear escalation” and whining that the administration is “following through on its threats.” Well, yeah. That’s kind of the whole point. This isn’t the Biden years anymore—where foreign agitators could trash the country, promote terror sympathies, and somehow still get treated like victims. Under Trump, if you openly support groups that massacre civilians, don’t be surprised when you’re shown the door.
STATEMENT: FIRE is monitoring reports about Mahmoud Khalil’s arrest and detention and seeking to learn more.
Anyone facing arrest and detention must be afforded due process. Just as students and other demonstrators are obliged to abide by lawful rules of conduct, our government… pic.twitter.com/PWvsz4jQo4
— FIRE (@TheFIREorg) March 9, 2025
Meanwhile, Columbia University is trying to play damage control. Their official statement was basically one long-winded way of saying, “We support our students, but, uh, we technically follow the law.” Which is ironic, considering their complete lack of action when Jewish students were being harassed on campus during these protests. They had zero problem letting pro-Hamas demonstrations spiral out of control, but now that the federal government is stepping in, suddenly they’re concerned about legal obligations? Spare us.
When you see people gnashing their teeth and rending their garments over the arrest and potential deportation of Mahmoud Khalil, one of the lead Hamas acolytes at Columbia University, show them this thread of his greatest hits pic.twitter.com/0neyS1mDGv
— Eitan Fischberger (@EFischberger) March 10, 2025
This arrest also comes on the heels of the Trump administration pulling $400 million in grants from Columbia due to the university’s blatant refusal to protect its Jewish students. And, according to the DOJ’s Leo Terrell, this is just the beginning. If universities think they can let radical activists run wild with no repercussions, they’re in for a rude awakening.
Of course, the usual left-wing activist circles are already clutching their pearls over all this. But here’s the reality: if you’re a foreign national in this country on a visa, you don’t have a right to stay here—especially if you’re openly advocating for groups that commit terrorist attacks. The Trump administration is sending a message loud and clear: America isn’t going to be a safe haven for pro-terror sympathizers. And if that upsets some radical activists and their Ivy League enablers, well, that’s just too bad.
