A federal immigration appeals board has cleared the way for the deportation of a Columbia University graduate tied to anti-Israel protests, marking a significant legal victory for the Trump Administration’s broader crackdown on noncitizen activists.
The Justice Department’s Board of Immigration Appeals ruled Thursday to deny an effort by Mahmoud Khalil to dismiss his case, issuing a final order of removal, according to his legal team.
Khalil, a 31-year-old lawful permanent resident, has become a central figure in the administration’s push to target foreign nationals involved in campus demonstrations linked to the war in Gaza.
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His case was the first publicly known arrest tied to the federal effort, which officials say is aimed at curbing activity they argue crosses into support for designated terrorist organizations.
The Trump Administration has claimed Khalil’s protest activity was “aligned with Hamas,” a charge cited by the Department of Homeland Security, though officials have not publicly detailed specific evidence linking him directly to the group.
Khalil has denied allegations of antisemitism and wrongdoing.
His legal team sharply criticized the ruling, calling it politically driven and unsupported by the facts.
“In all my decades as an immigration lawyer, I have never seen such a baseless and politically motivated decision,” said his attorney, Marc Van Der Hout, in a statement issued by the American Civil Liberties Union. “The BIA’s decision has absolutely no support in the record, violates a federal court order, and we’ll be fighting it until the end.”
Despite the order, Khalil is not expected to be immediately deported.
His attorneys say a separate federal habeas case remains ongoing, which could temporarily block his removal while the courts weigh the legality of the government’s actions.
The case now sets up a high-stakes legal and political fight over the limits of immigration enforcement, free speech protections, and national security authority.
More over at The New York Post:
Immigration board denies Mahmoud Khalil’s appeal, bringing activist one step closer to deportation https://t.co/7J8aOG0yR4 pic.twitter.com/w4LBAtJnbn
— New York Post (@nypost) April 10, 2026
