The foreign student who led anti-Israel protests at Columbia University has been arrested by federal agents and will be deported.
The student, pro-Hamas activist Mahmoud Khalil, was arrested by Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents on Saturday night.
He was arrested in his university-owned apartment a few blocks from the campus, his lawyers told the New York Post.
Khalil already has his graduate degree from Columbia, having graduated in December.
However, he school’s policies allowed him to remain on campus.
His undergraduate degree is from Beirut.
He was responsible for pro-Hamas terrorism activism at Columbia and Barnard College.
Khalil was reportedly seeking the “total eradication of Western civilization.”
Video and audio shared on X depict Khalil holding a bullhorn during last week’s takeover of the Milstein Library at Barnard College.
The protest included propaganda flyers from the Hamas Media Office.
The material reportedly justified the October 7, 2023 attack on Israel that resulted in 1,200 casualties, over 250 hostages, and many women raped and others injured.
In a statement to the Post about the protest, Ari Shrage, head of Columbia’s Jewish Alumni Association, said:
“These protesters were handing out materials from terrorist organizations Hamas and Hezbollah.
“Every American citizen should be concerned when students are encouraging terrorist activities on US soil regardless of their nationality.”
While ICE was arresting Khalil, Columbia put out a statement saying that the agents were on campus.
The college said it would not cooperate with ICE except when required by law.
“Consistent with our longstanding practice and the practice of cities and institutions throughout the country, law enforcement must have a judicial warrant to enter non-public university areas, including university buildings,” the statement read in part.
“Columbia is committed to complying with all legal obligations and supporting our student body and campus community,” it continued.
Of course, responses like the one at Columbia are exactly why these protests continue to go on for weeks on end and why they haven’t stopped in the almost 18 months since the attack.
Meanwhile, leaked emails have revealed that Khalil begged the school for protection just one day before his arrest.
Khalil sent an email to Columbia interim president Katrina Armstrong on March 7 that said:
“Since yesterday, I have been subjected to a vicious, coordinated, and dehumanizing doxxing campaign led by Columbia affiliates Shai Davidai and David Lederer who, among others, have labeled me a security threat and called for my deportation.
“Their attacks have incited a wave of hate, including calls for my deportation and death threats,” he added.
“I have outlined the wider context below, yet Columbia has not provided any meaningful support or resources in response to this escalating threat.
“I haven’t been able to sleep, fearing that ICE or a dangerous individual might come to my home.
“I urgently need legal support, and I urge you to intervene and provide the necessary protections to prevent further harm.”
Following his arrest, ICE is now preparing to deport Khalil.
READ MORE – Hamas Terrorists Murdered Israeli Infant Hostages with ‘Bare Hands,’ Autopsies Reveal
