Palestinian Columbia graduate Mahmoud Khalil asks Supreme Court to halt deportation, arguing Trump administration is violating his free-speech rights

Mahmoud Khalil, a Palestinian Columbia University graduate and legal U.S. resident, has asked the Supreme Court to stop his deportation, The New York Times reported. He argues that the Trump administration is violating his free-speech rights.

Khalil was arrested in March 2025 over his role in pro-Palestinian protests. The administration says his activism threatens U.S. foreign policy interests.

A lower court ordered Khalil’s release, but an appeals court later sided with the government on procedural grounds. The Supreme Court will decide whether to hear his case, which could determine how courts handle deportations linked to political speech.