Immigration Appeals Board Denies Mahmoud Khalil's Deportation Case Appeal

Sat Apr 11 2026 06:55:35 GMT+0000 (Coordinated Universal Time)

Mahmoud Khalil, a Palestinian activist and former Columbia University student, faces imminent deportation after an appeals board's ruling.

The Board of Immigration Appeals has turned down Mahmoud Khalil's request to invalidate his deportation case, a move that brings him closer to re-arrest. Khalil, who spoke out against Israeli actions in Gaza, argues the ruling is politically driven, as he continues his fight against deportation amid allegations of ties to Hamas, which he vehemently denies.

NEW YORK (AP) — Mahmoud Khalil's hopes of averting deportation largely dimmed as the Board of Immigration Appeals denied his latest bid to drop his case. The board's decision, issued on Thursday, further entrenches Khalil's grim reality of potential re-arrest and expulsion.

Khalil, who previously took a vocal stand on Palestinian rights as a graduate student at Columbia University, characterized the ruling as biased and politically motivated. His attorneys maintain he cannot legally be deported or detained as he navigates existing legal challenges in federal court.

The only crime I committed was speaking out against the genocide in Palestine, Khalil stated, criticizing the government's use of the immigration system as a punitive tool against dissent.

The Board of Immigration Appeals is known for setting important precedents within the U.S. immigration court system, which has seen increased government influence in recent years, particularly under the former Trump administration.

Khalil, a 31-year-old legal permanent resident initially detained during a nationwide crackdown targeting noncitizens protesting Israeli policies, asserts that he was the first individual publicly identified amid this crackdown.

Accusations against Khalil claim his protest activities align with Hamas, a designation he vehemently disputes, as authorities have yet to substantiate any claims linking him to terrorist organizations. Following his earlier arrest, Khalil spent 104 days in jail, missing significant life events such as the birth of his first child.

In recent developments, Khalil's legal team sought a reconsideration from the appeals court after a prior ruling stated his release by a federal judge was beyond judicial authority. His attorneys are also pushing for the recusal of a specific judge due to his previous connections with the Justice Department amid student protests.

Khalil’s background is complex; born in Syria with Palestinian heritage, he holds Algerian citizenship due to family ties. He has expressed fears that deportation could lead to retaliation against him.