By Justin Choi

Mahmoud Khalil, a pro-Palestinian protester and Columbia graduate student, was detained by ICE officers on March 8.

Khalil was detained in New York City in the lobby of his Columbia University apartment building. Khalil had allegedly aligned himself with Hamas according to the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), which was part of the reason why he was arrested.

DHS also alleged that he had failed to disclose ties to certain organizations, such as the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees, on his green card application. 

The Columbia graduate student’s arrest comes after President Trump vowed to suppress pro-Hamas and anti-Israel protests on college campuses. He promised to take strong actions against those who support terrorism such as stripping visas for those individuals. 

At UCLA, pro-Palestinian supporters recently vandalized the home of UC Regent Jonathan Sures near UCLA. Following the incident, UCLA banned the Students for Justice in Palestine. With the Trump administration intensifying its crackdown on Hamas related activities, some people are wondering whether arrests will also be made on pro-Hamas UCLA students.

Rumeysa Ozturk, a student at Tufts University, was also recently arrested due to her anti-Israel sentiment. DHS alleged that she overstayed her visa and labeled her as a pro-Hamas supporter.