US Judge Orders Deportation of Activist Mahmoud Khalil Over Green Card Misrepresentation

An immigration judge in Louisiana has ordered the deportation of pro-Palestinian activist Mahmoud Khalil to Algeria or Syria, citing misrepresentation on his green card application. The ruling, issued on September 12 by Judge Jamee Comans, stated that Khalil "willfully misrepresented material fact(s)" on his application. Khalil's attorneys plan to appeal the decision and have noted that a separate federal court order currently prevents his immediate deportation or detention while his civil rights case is ongoing. Khalil, a former Columbia University student and legal permanent resident married to a U.S. citizen, was detained for three months beginning in March and missed the birth of his child during that time. He was released in June but continues to face deportation proceedings. The Trump administration has intensified actions against pro-Palestinian activists, labeling them as antisemitic and supporters of extremism. Khalil has denied these allegations, asserting that his advocacy focuses on human rights and is not antisemitic.