Mahmoud Khalil planned Columbia University event sparks outrage from Jewish groups

Former Columbia University student and activist Mahmoud Khalil is returning to the campus on Tuesday evening to promote his newly released memoir, titled No Land to Stand On, according to the New York Post. The scheduled appearance on the Ivy League campus in Manhattan has sparked outrage among Jewish groups. [1][2]

The New York Post reported that Khalil's book documents the 104 days he spent in federal lockup following his arrest after participating in anti-Israel protests at Columbia University in 2024. United States Immigration and Customs Enforcement detained Khalil from March 8 to June 20, 2025, under the administration of President Donald Trump. He was held without being accused of a crime. [1][2]

Khalil acted as a negotiator and spokesperson during the 2024 Gaza Solidarity Encampment while studying as a graduate student at the School of International and Public Affairs at Columbia University. His detention became a focus for legal challenges concerning due process, as national security policies under the Trump administration prioritized the deportation of non-citizen protest participants. In September 2026, Khalil declined to denounce Hamas during an interview with CNN. [2][5]

As FTMQ News reported earlier, Khalil petitioned the United States Supreme Court on October 19, 2026, to review his immigration detention case. Khalil appealed a ruling from the 3rd U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals to clarify whether federal courts possess the authority to review immigration detentions before administrative court proceedings conclude. [5][6]