US Judge Orders Mahmoud Khalil to be Deported to Algeria or Syria

A U.S. immigration judge has ordered Mahmoud Khalil, a pro-Palestinian activist and permanent resident, to be deported to either Algeria or Syria, citing willful misrepresentation on his green card application regarding his background and affiliations. 

Judge Jamee Comans ruled that Khalil failed to disclose ties to the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestinian Refugees (UNRWA) and an activist group, Columbia University Apartheid Divest (CUAD), when applying for lawful permanent residency.

The judge determined these omissions were not accidental but deliberate, stating that they were intended “to circumvent the immigration process and reduce the likelihood his application would be denied.” 

Khalil, originally born in Syria and holding Algerian citizenship of Palestinian origin, has asserted that the order is politically motivated. His lawyers say the deportation decision is part of a broader crackdown on student activism by the Trump administration, particularly involving foreign-born protesters. 

His legal team has filed an appeal, contending that several procedural irregularities occurred, including a lack of a proper hearing and a violation of due process. Meanwhile, a separate federal court order remains in effect that blocks his immediate deportation or detention while related litigation in New Jersey continues. 

Khalil’s detention began in early March 2025, after immigration agents arrested him in New York. He was held in a detention center in Louisiana for three months before being released in June. During that time he missed the birth of his child. 

The case has raised sharp debate about free speech rights, activism, and immigration law, especially over whether political expression can lawfully lead to immigration consequences. Rights groups argue that the order sets a troubling precedent for penalizing protest and dissent.

This article was previously published on omanmoments. To see the original article, click here