Immigration agents detained Columbia University graduate Mahmoud Khalil without a warrant in March, contrary to their initial claims. This admission was made in new filings in immigration and federal court on April 24. Khalil, a pro-Palestinian activist, was detained in the lobby of his student apartment building in Manhattan. The Trump administration is seeking to deport him, citing “adverse foreign policy consequences.” Khalil has been accused of no crime and has a green card providing permanent residency in the U.S. He has also applied for asylum. His lawyers are seeking bail and his return to New Jersey from Louisiana, where he remains in immigration custody.
The government defended the actions of immigration agents, claiming “exigent circumstances” justified the warrantless arrest as they believed Khalil was a flight risk. However, Khalil’s lawyers argue this claim is false and contradicted by witness testimony and video evidence. The video of the arrest shows Khalil complying with plainclothes officers who did not show a warrant.
The Trump administration’s attempt to deport Khalil has been met with criticism, with Congressional Democrats meeting with him in Louisiana. Khalil’s lawyers are challenging the government’s deportation order in both immigration and federal courts, arguing that his detention violates his constitutional rights, including free speech and due process. The admission that immigration agents did not have a warrant at the time of Khalil’s detention has raised concerns about the government’s conduct in this case.
