Key Takeaways
• Mahmoud Khalil, a Palestinian resident, faces deportation under a rare foreign policy law despite having a green card.
• Columbia University lost $400 million in federal research funding after government crackdown on student protest activities.
• Visa revocations and deportation proceedings now affect students with valid visas or green cards involved in political protests.
Federal officials are now taking strong action against foreign students and residents who demonstrated at Columbia University 🇺🇸 in support of Palestinians. This move shows a major increase in immigration enforcement, especially for those with valid visas or green cards, who usually have more security in the United States 🇺🇸.
Sharp Shift in Immigration Policy
At the center of these changes is the case of Mahmoud Khalil, a 30-year-old Palestinian graduate student at Columbia University. Khalil is a legal permanent resident, which means he holds a green card and usually enjoys strong protection against deportation. In March 2025, Khalil was arrested by immigration officers, not for breaking any laws during student protests, but under a law rarely used before. This law lets the Secretary of State ask for the removal of someone if they believe their presence could cause “potentially serious foreign policy problems” for the country.
Khalil had played a very public role in the campus movement, acting as both negotiator and spokesperson for the student activists. Their protests at Columbia in the spring before were sparked by Israel’s military actions in Gaza. Khalil, however, was not accused of violence, crimes, or even joining the occupation of an administration building. Despite this, an immigration judge ruled that Khalil could be deported under the foreign policy law.
Khalil’s lawyers argue that these actions are not about national security but are instead about silencing protests and intimidating people who speak out. They argue the move is a crackdown on freedom of speech — something deeply protected by the U.S. Constitution. For now, courts in New York and New Jersey have blocked the government from deporting Khalil while his case is in progress.
More Students Impacted
Although Mahmoud Khalil’s situation is the most high-profile, several other students have been caught up in this visa crackdown at Columbia University:
- One doctoral student from India 🇮🇳 had their visa canceled and quickly left the United States 🇺🇸 before facing removal.
- Leqaa Kordia, a Palestinian woman who took part in the protests near the Columbia campus, was arrested in Newark, New Jersey, for staying in the country after her student visa expired.
These cases show that the current crackdown is not limited to just one person or group. It is affecting students from different backgrounds and nationalities, as long as they were involved or nearby the protests.
Administration Statements and Actions
The Trump administration has made its approach very clear. Secretary of State Marco Rubio said the government is now “revoking the visas and/or green cards of Hamas supporters in America so they can be deported.” Administration officials claim the protests at Columbia University were not just about free speech, but about supporting Hamas — though, in Khalil’s specific case, the White House has not shown clear proof of this claim.
Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanche explained that these actions are part of President Trump’s goal to “end antisemitism in this country.” The Justice Department is now examining Columbia University closely. Officials say they are looking at whether the school “harbored and hid illegal aliens” on campus, and whether earlier events broke civil rights laws or involved crimes related to terrorism.
This investigation is unusual in that it directly connects university policies with national security and immigration law. Until now, most government attention on student visas focused on individual visa status, not the university itself.
Big Impact for Columbia University
The effects of this visa crackdown reach beyond the students. Columbia University has lost at least $400 million in federal research money, including funds for its medical center. The Trump administration claims the reason for this is that the university did not do enough to stop antisemitism on its campus, and the protests were seen as part of this issue.
This is a large financial setback for any university and shows a wider use of government tools to control campus protests and push schools to follow certain political lines. As reported by VisaVerge.com, these types of federal penalties usually take years to gather, review, and apply, but the speed of these actions at Columbia suggests how quickly things are changing.
Legal and Civil Rights Concerns
Many believe these steps go too far. Senate Democrats have called the new deportation actions “straight up authoritarianism,” a term often used to describe harsh limits on personal freedoms. Civil rights groups and legal experts warn that this type of policy could scare students out of joining peaceful protests, or even simply sharing their thoughts in public.
The case of Mahmoud Khalil draws special attention for other reasons as well: he is married to a U.S. citizen who is eight months pregnant. Under common laws, this close family tie would usually make his deportation much less likely. However, the rare foreign policy law used in his arrest seems to leave little room for these personal details.
Khalil’s attorneys are fighting his case in court. They say the law the administration is using is only meant for extreme situations — like people believed to be spies or direct threats, not peaceful student protest leaders. So far, judges have agreed that the case deserves slower, closer review, and they’re not letting the government deport Khalil just yet.
Expansion of Deportation Actions
This crackdown is a big change from actions in the past. President Trump’s first campaign and term in office worked mostly on removing undocumented immigrants who had committed crimes, or those who overstayed their visas. The new approach targets people who can legally live in the United States 🇺🇸 and those who may have only joined a protest as a part of their free speech rights.
This marks a wider use of deportation laws, and it could set a new standard for other cases around the country. For example, it could mean:
- Legal visa or green card holders may now worry about joining protests.
- International students might choose to avoid U.S. campuses known for political activity.
- U.S. universities could limit protests to avoid losing federal money.
Data and Official Sources
It’s hard to know exactly how many students or residents could be affected, but Columbia University brings in thousands of international students each year, many of whom join in campus events and activism. The Department of State’s rules let federal officers remove someone considered a risk to foreign policy, but it’s very rare to see these rules used against students or peaceful protesters.
The U.S. government maintains all official details about student visa rules and removal actions on its U.S. Department of State Students page. Anyone with questions about their own status, or changes in policy, can find updated instructions there.
Historical Context and Reactions
Past protests in the United States 🇺🇸 have sometimes led to police action, or campus discipline, but rarely major federal immigration crackdowns. This new response sets a harder line — blending political protest with immigration enforcement. Historians note that in U.S. history, such moves were last common during times of great national fear, such as the Red Scare (fears about communism) or after major wars.
Students at Columbia University and their supporters argue that these new actions make it dangerous to speak out, especially if you are not a U.S. citizen. At the same time, government officials argue that strong steps are needed to protect national security and end anti-Jewish hate.
Ongoing Legal Challenges
As protests and legal battles continue, Khalil’s case is being watched very closely. How his case ends could set new legal standards for other immigrants and for how much the government can use foreign policy reasons to deport someone who has not broken any criminal laws.
The government faces several legal tests. Courts must balance the powers given to the Secretary of State with the right to free speech and the traditional protections for green card holders and visa holders. If Khalil is deported, it may open the door to more cases like his, creating a new legal reality for students and residents across the country.
On the other hand, if the courts rule against the Trump administration and allow Khalil to stay, it could slow or stop similar actions in the future, helping to protect immigrant rights on campuses everywhere.
What to Know if You Are a Student or Visa Holder
- Stay aware of any changes in visa or immigration rules, especially if you join protests or speak out on political topics.
- Double-check your own visa status and talk to a lawyer if you think there could be any problems.
- Watch for updates from official government sites, and from university staff who track these changes.
- Understand that even students and residents with long-term status can be affected in today’s climate.
Issues for Universities
Columbia University is now facing both loss of funding and deep questions about its responsibilities. Other schools are likely watching closely, wondering if they, too, could lose government support if they don’t act quickly around protests.
Schools may be forced to:
- Review their own policies and how they respond to protests.
- Report undocumented students or protest activity to federal officials.
- Clamp down on student activism to avoid punishment.
This could change the culture of U.S. campuses, making them less open for debate and activist activity, especially for international students from countries like Palestine 🇵🇸 or India 🇮🇳.
Looking Ahead
The use of a rare foreign policy tool to deport people like Mahmoud Khalil stands out as a warning to many in academic and immigrant circles. Students in future protests may think twice before taking strong public stands. Some international students may no longer feel safe coming to study in the United States 🇺🇸 at all.
As these high-profile cases move forward in U.S. courts, many groups — from legal scholars to civil rights advocates — will keep pressing both for the protection of free speech and for fair treatment of immigrants.
In summary, the Trump administration’s visa crackdown at Columbia University is not only reshaping the lives of students like Mahmoud Khalil, but it’s also sending a loud message to international students, U.S. universities, and anyone involved in campus protests. This shift could affect campus life, research funding, and even how the world views higher education in the United States 🇺🇸 moving forward.
For more information about current visa rules, students and universities can visit the State Department’s study visa page for official updates.
The continuing legal fight over Mahmoud Khalil’s future will determine whether this new, tougher approach to student immigration becomes the rule or stays the exception. One thing is clear: the relationship between politics, protest, and immigration at Columbia University and beyond has changed, with wide consequences for many.
Learn Today
Green Card → Official proof of lawful permanent residence in the United States, providing permission to live and work indefinitely.
Foreign Policy Law → A rarely used law enabling removal of individuals if their presence could cause serious foreign policy issues for the country.
Visa Revocation → The act of canceling a person’s permission to enter or remain in a country, making them subject to removal.
Civil Rights → Basic rights and freedoms guaranteed by law, such as free speech and equal protection, central to lawful protest.
Deportation Proceedings → Legal actions taken by the government to remove a non-citizen from the country due to visa issues or other concerns.
This Article in a Nutshell
Federal authorities have launched an aggressive visa crackdown targeting international students protesting at Columbia University, using a seldom-invoked foreign policy law. Mahmoud Khalil, a Palestinian green card holder, faces deportation. This marks a significant shift in immigration enforcement, directly threatening students’ rights and university funding for political dissent on U.S. campuses.
— By VisaVerge.com
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