Judge Halts Deportation of Columbia Student Mahmoud Khalil Amid Trump Crackdown

The Trump administration has initiated deportation proceedings against Mahmoud Khalil, a Palestinian graduate student from Columbia University, citing his involvement in pro-Palestinian protests as grounds for his detention. Khalil, who has lawful permanent resident status, was arrested by ICE and moved to a detention facility in Louisiana. However, a federal judge has temporarily blocked his deportation, allowing him to remain in the U.S. while reviewing legal challenges to his arrest, which has sparked widespread protests against what many view as a violation of free speech. President Trump has promised that Khalil's case is the 'first arrest of many to come,' as he targets students involved in activism perceived as anti-American or pro-terrorist. Critics argue that the government must provide substantial evidence beyond mere activism to justify Khalil's deportation, as free speech is protected under U.S. law. The case has intensified discussions about free speech rights and the treatment of activists in the United States.