Homeland Security agents recently conducted searches in the rooms of two students at Columbia University. The interim president of the school, Katrina Armstrong, expressed her sadness in a statement to the campus community.
Armstrong shared that federal agents from the Department of Homeland Security had visited two university residences. Despite the search, no arrests or detentions occurred, and no items were taken.
The DHS agents had warrants signed by a federal judge, which allowed them to search non-public areas on the campus.
Details surrounding the rooms searched and the purpose of the search were not immediately available.
Khalil is a permanent U.S. resident, but is Palestinian and was raised in Syria. He is married to an American citizen who is currently eight months pregnant.
When he was arrested, DHS said it was to protect U.S. national security, saying that Khalil “led activities aligned to Hamas, a designated terrorist organization.”
Mahmoud Khalil speaking at an anti-Israel encampment on the Columbia University campus in New York on April 29, 2024. (AP Photo/Ted Shaffrey, file)
Khalil’s attorney, Ramsi Kassem, said his client was “identified, targeted and detained” because of his advocacy for Palestinian rights and his protected speech. He said Khalil has no criminal convictions, but “for some reason, is being detained.”
White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt defended the Trump administration’s decision to arrest Khalil and said he distributed pro-Hamas propaganda fliers on campus.
Fox News Digital’s Michael Dorgan contributed to this report.
