Mahmud Khalil-Palestinian worker and Green Card holder, detained by immigration and customs enforcement this week, said federal agents say that the White House was asking for an update in its custody, his lawyers said.
“He was surrounded by several DHS agents, or they were DHS agents, and believe that he saw or heard, during a call, one of them says an update on what the White House is running,” a Staff Advocate of the Center for Contential Rights Center, who is representing Khalil, said in a press conference on Friday.
“We have every reason to believe, as we allege in the petition, that many people were involved in the government’s executive branch, including the White House,” Sisay said.
Khalil participated in student protests at Columbia University, calling the institution to divide and bite the relationship with Israel, and he participated in a conversation with the university administration.
A group representing Khalil, Clear director Ramji Kasem, said, “Another goal of him was to divide Columbia University with his complexity with Gaza and Israeli government offenses at West Bank.”
A man holds Placards before hearing in the custody of Mahmud Khalil, a Palestinian worker in New York City in New York City on March 12, 2025 in New York City.
Shannon Stapelton/Reuters
The White House and Columbia University did not immediately respond to the request of ABC News for comments.
Columbia University said in a statement on Thursday, “We will continue working to support our community, including protecting our students’ privacy, during this challenging time and we are constantly committed to our values and our missions.”
The Trump administration has claimed that Khalil distributed “Pro-Hamas Publicity Flire with Hamas” without providing evidence.
White House press secretary Karolin Lewit said, “They are flyer at my desk, they were provided to me by the Homeland Security Department.”
Kasem said, “All this is just nonsense of flyers, there is no truth in it.”
Khalil’s lawyers said that their briefing should end by the beginning of next week on the proposal to force Khalil to return to New York. His lawyers hope that the judges will decide for some time next week.
“Mahmood was shifted to several state lines and was later transferred to a remote prison in Louisiana, which was transferred to a remote jail after hours after hours after trying to intervene in the jurisdiction of his captive petition, a deliberate and anti -Repilee Act and New York Court.”
His lawyers said that in the weeks known for their arrest, Khalil said he was afraid of his safety as he and other students of the University of Columbia were advocating the rights of Palestinians.
The protesters held a rally in support of Mahmud Khalil outside the Thagud Marshall Courthouse, during the hearing of Khalil’s arrest in New York City on March 12, 2025.
Charlie Tribalu/AFP through Getty Image
“This is almost like a daily event, where Twitter, social media posts are showing pictures of students, recognizing where they are located, where they live, with whom they live, tagging ice, tagging DHS, tagging the DHS, tagging the President, tagging the President, tagging the state secretary,” a lawyer with Amy Greer. And Lewis who is representing Khalil said on Friday.
“He is really afraid that what happened to him will be with others.”
Khalil’s lawyers accused the Trump administration of taking vengeance against Khalil for his opposition and activism against Khalil, which has been protected by the first amendment arguing his speech.
“The Trump administration is taking an exceptionally wider and unconstitutional approach to how physical support to terrorism laws applies in these contexts,” the ACLU, a senior staff of ACLU, Attorney Brian Hoss said at the press conference.
Mahmud Khalil talks to media members about the rebellion about Rafah at Columbia University, which during the ongoing conflict between New York City, US, Israeli in Gaza on 1 June, 2024 and the Palestinian Islamist group Hamas. Reuters/Jeenah Moon/File Photo
Jeenah Moon/Reuters
“The Supreme Court Holder vs. Humanitarian Law Project was very clear in a case that the federal content supported the terrorism law does not apply to independent advocacy, even when advocating advocacy is clearly supportive of a foreign designated terrorist organization, a statement says, ‘I support Hamas,’ If this statement is not coordinated with a foreign nominated terrorist organization, if this statement is not coordinated with a foreign nominated terrorist organization.
The first amendment also protects the freedom of speech of individuals who are not American citizens, Hos said. Khalil is a permanent resident of America
“The Trump administration is punishing Mr. Khalil for his speech about Palestine. It is silenceing him, and it is installing him as an example to cool millions of green card holders and other non-citizens across the country, which can say that President can attract Trump’s Ire.
State Secretary Maro Rubio said on X on Sunday that the department “will cancel the visa and/or green card of Hamas supporters in the US to deport them.”
Khalil’s lawyers have denied that Khalil has any connection with Hamas and said that his activism is in support of Palestinian rights.
“If the administration can do this to Mr. Khalil due to his speech about Palestine, it can do it for any non-citizen, which takes a position on global issues, including a war between Russia and Ukraine, tariffs being imposed against American colleagues, or the rise of very correct political parties in Europe.”
DHS spokesperson Trisia McLaglin said Khalil was detained by snow “anti-Jewishism was banned in support of President Trump’s executive orders.”
McLaglin said in a statement on Sunday night, “Khalil led a nominated terrorist organization, Hamas -related activities.”
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