SP- Indonesia.com, Singapore – Mahmoud Khalil, a prominent figure in the student protests regarding the 2024 Gaza war at Columbia University, was reportedly detained by US authorities in New York on Saturday (March 8.2026).
Khalil is currently being held in an immigration detention facility in Louisiana pending a hearing in immigration court, which will determine his legal status in the United States, including possible deportation.
This detention comes amid growing attention to student demonstrations on several US campuses highlighting the conflict in Gaza. These actions in recent months have sparked mixed responses from both universities and law enforcement.
To date, there has been no official statement from the relevant authorities regarding the legal basis for Khalil’s detention. However, this case is suspected to be related to his immigration status.
In the US legal system, individuals detained by immigration authorities have the right to undergo due process through immigration court, including filing defenses and appeals before a final decision regarding deportation is made.
The developments in this case are expected to attract attention, particularly amidst the debate over the boundaries between immigration law enforcement and freedom of expression on campus.
(Singapore Reporter : Tri Astuti)
