Cellphone video shows the arrest of Columbia University anti-Israel activist Mahmoud Khalil by federal immigration agents.
The video clip, lasting only two minutes, captures a tense moment where immigration agents approach Khalil in the lobby of his university residence. They inform him that he is about to be arrested and instruct him to stop resisting their actions.
“There’s no need for this,” Khalil replies as he is placed in handcuffs. “I’m going with you. No worries.”
The video perspective comes from “his wife, who is 8 months pregnant,” American citizen Noor Abdalla, an ACLU social media post said.
Mahmoud Khalil tells his wife to call his lawyer, Amy, when being arrested. (The Family of Mahmoud Khalil)
Khalil’s attorneys released the video on the same day that the Justice Department revealed its investigation into whether the university had been harboring undocumented immigrants on its premises.
Khalil, a 30-year-old green card holder, was arrested by Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) officials on March 8.
As Khalil is being confronted by the immigration agents, his wife, Noor Abdalla, can be seen in the background trying to gather more information about the situation. The family’s concern is evident in the captured moment of Khalil’s arrest.
He is facing possible deportation over his alleged support for Hamas, and released a statement from inside the detention facility where he is being held this week.
In a letter released by his attorneys on Tuesday, Khalil characterized his arrest as “indicative of anti-Palestinian racism.” He also blamed Columbia’s administration, including former university President Minouche Shafik, who was criticized for failing to adequately respond to allegations of antisemitic behavior from activists on campus before she ultimately stepped down.
Mahmoud Khalil allegedly played a major role in the protests against Israel at Columbia University. (Ted Shaffrey, file)
“My unjust detention is indicative of the anti-Palestinian racism that both the Biden and Trump administrations have demonstrated over the past 16 months as the U.S. has continued to supply Israel with weapons to kill Palestinians and prevented international intervention,” Khalil wrote. “For decades, anti-Palestinian racism has driven efforts to expand U.S. laws and practices that are used to violently repress Palestinians, Arab Americans, and other communities. That is precisely why I am being targeted.”
FOX News’ Alec Schemmel and The Associated Press contributed to this report.
