Washington, April 26 (HS): Mahmoud Khalil, a Palestine supporter and Columbia University graduate student, was arrested on March 8 without an arrest warrant after returning from iftar during Ramadan. Born in Syria, Khalil is a Green Card holder.

According to court documents , U.S. Department of Homeland Security lawyers claimed there were necessary circumstances for a warrantless arrest due to concerns that Khalil might not cooperate and could attempt to flee. However, video footage shows Khalil willingly cooperating with officers during the arrest. He is currently detained in Louisiana. Khalil’s wife, Noor Abdullah, recently gave birth to their first child, and his legal team argues that a warrant should have been required to enter his apartment building. They assert that he cooperated with officials, and no evidence of a flight risk has been presented.

Assistant Secretary of the Department of Homeland Security Tricia McLaughlin stated that Khalil had attempted to flee, justifying his arrest. Following his detention, the Trump administration has cited two grounds for his deportation: an immigration law provision allowing deportation authority and allegations of concealing information regarding his membership in certain organizations and his employment at the British Embassy in Syria. Columbia University has not commented on the case.

Hindusthan Samachar / Jun Sarkar