• The Trump administration is pursuing the deportation of Mahmoud Khalil for alleged misrepresentation on his green card application.
• Khalil’s case raises significant First Amendment concerns regarding political speech during pro-Palestinian protests.
• New allegations claim he concealed employment details with UNRWA and the British Embassy on his residency application.

The Trump administration is intensifying its efforts to deport Mahmoud Khalil, a former Columbia University student and prominent pro-Palestinian activist, as new allegations emerge regarding his green card application. Khalil, who has been detained by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE)employment history with the United Nations Relief and Works Agency (UNRWA) as well as the Syria Office of the British Embassy. According to ABC News, these allegations are part of a legal strategy to sidestep challenges based on Khalil's free speech rights. The administration argues that Khalil's undocumented affiliations, including his involvement with organizations highlighting Palestinian rights, constitute grounds for his deportation under a rarely invoked immigration provision.

Since his arrest, Khalil's legal team has vehemently contested the government's characterization of his activities as a threat to U.S. foreign policy interests, labeling them as retaliatory actions motivated by his political speech. Khalil’s lawyer, Marc Van Der Hout, expressed that the claims of misrepresentation are "completely meritless," indicating the case fundamentally revolves around Khalil's First Amendment rights to express political opinions.Source.

During recent court proceedings, the Justice Department argued that Khalil had willfully misrepresented crucial information about his overseas employment, stating, "Khalil is inadmissible at the time of his adjustment of status because he sought to procure an immigration benefit by fraud." As the case unfolds in federal court, legal experts highlight the implications for free speech, as many view Khalil's deportation attempts as a broader effort to suppress dissent regarding U.S. foreign policy in the Middle East.

In a statement reflecting the sentiment of several advocacy groups, it was emphasized that targeting Khalil for his political activism raises significant ethical concerns surrounding freedom of expression in the U.S. Many legal analysts have noted that such actions could set a precedent affecting countless others involved in political activism.

For more information on the ongoing developments in this case, visit The Hill and CBS News.