Mahmoud Khalil, a leading figure in pro-Palestinian campus protests across the United States, has pledged to continue his activism after being freed from a federal detention centre, despite facing the threat of deportation.
Greeted by jubilant supporters at Newark Airport near New York City on Saturday, Khalil declared his determination: “Even if they would kill me, I would still speak for Palestine.”
The Columbia University graduate, who holds US permanent residency, has been in federal custody since March while fighting removal proceedings.
Married to an American citizen and father to a US-born child, Khalil was released from a Louisiana immigration facility on Friday, following a judge’s decision to grant him bail.
Khalil emerged as a prominent organiser of student protests opposing Israel’s military campaign in Gaza, often clashing with US authorities over his outspoken stance.
Under President Donald Trump’s administration, Khalil was labelled a national security risk.
“Just the fact I am here sends a message,” Khalil said, addressing his supporters. “These attempts to silence pro-Palestinian voices have failed.”
Standing by his side was his wife, Noor Abdalla, who gave birth to their first child while Khalil was detained, as well as Democratic congresswoman Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, who strongly criticised his detention.
“Mahmoud Khalil was imprisoned for 104 days by this administration and the Trump administration, without grounds and purely for political reasons—because he advocates for Palestinian human rights,” Ocasio-Cortez told the crowd. “This fight is not over.”
Though Khalil has secured his release for now, he remains restricted in his movements and is prohibited from leaving the country unless he voluntarily chooses deportation. The Trump administration had argued that his presence in the US could pose “serious foreign policy consequences.”
Beyond the legal battle, Khalil’s legal team has expressed concerns about his safety. “We are very mindful of his security,” said Baher Azmy, one of his lawyers. “The irony is that Mahmoud is being persecuted despite his commitment to peace and his opposition to US policy.”
Azmy declined to specify what security measures were being taken to protect Khalil and his family.
Born in Syria to Palestinian parents, Khalil remains defiant, insisting that his struggle to advocate for Palestinian rights will continue.
