A Columbia University graduate student currently held in ICE detention has unleashed a fierce critique of the institution's leadership through an op-ed published in the school newspaper.
According to the New York Post, Mahmoud Khalil, writing from an ICE facility in Louisiana, accused Columbia's administration of enabling his "abduction" and suppressing student dissent under the guise of fighting antisemitism.
In his editorial published in the Columbia Daily Spectator, Khalil drew parallels between his current situation and his previous experience fleeing from Syria's Assad regime to Lebanon. His commentary specifically targeted University President Minouche Shafik, former interim President Katrina Armstrong, and other deans for their cooperation with federal authorities.
Student Leader Challenges University's Response to Protests
Khalil's detention on March 8 occurred after his student visa was revoked by the Trump administration following his involvement in anti-Israel protests at Columbia-affiliated Barnard College. The 30-year-old Syrian of Palestinian descent, who holds Algerian citizenship, was apprehended by Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents in his apartment building's lobby.
The graduate student's editorial addresses what he perceives as the university's systematic suppression of pro-Palestinian voices. He specifically criticized Columbia's decision to provide student disciplinary records to Congress and the creation of a Task Force on Antisemitism that he claims broadly categorizes anti-Israel sentiment as hate speech.
In his commentary, Khalil mentioned other detained students, including Leqaa Kordia, Dr. Badar Khan Suri, and Rumeysa Ozturk, suggesting a pattern of targeting international students who support Palestinian causes.
Controversial Comparisons Draw Attention
Khalil's most provocative statements in the editorial included a comparison of Columbia's administration to World War II Nazi collaborators.
He wrote:
Who can still pretend this is an educational institution and not the "Vichy on the Hudson"? The intimidation and kidnapping of international students who stand for Palestine has only accelerated. In a cruel irony, the students who publicize manufactured safety concerns regarding antisemitism are the same ones who repeatedly show up at your events looking for provocation, leaving only disappointed.
The editorial also addressed Jewish students' concerns about campus safety, which Khalil dismissed as manufactured. His words sparked further controversy when he suggested that some of these students might be the ones operating checkpoints or conducting surveillance if they were in Palestine.
Academic Institution's History of Balanced Coverage
The Columbia Daily Spectator, which published Khalil's commentary, has maintained a track record of presenting diverse viewpoints on the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. Their editorial decisions have resulted in an approximately equal number of pro-Israel and anti-Israel opinion pieces throughout the current academic year.
Representatives from the school newspaper were not immediately available to provide comments about their decision to publish Khalil's controversial editorial. The piece was dictated through his lawyers, maintaining his voice in campus discussions despite his physical absence.
Current Status and Legal Proceedings
ICE's detention of Khalil represents a significant escalation in the ongoing tensions surrounding campus protests related to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. His arrest occurred amid increased scrutiny of international students participating in political demonstrations on American campuses.
The Syrian-born student's situation highlights the complex intersection of immigration policy, academic freedom, and political expression in American universities. His case has drawn attention to the broader implications of federal intervention in campus political activities.
