U.S. arrests Palestinian student protester at Columbia University

Trump vows to target foreign students involved in pro-Palestinian movement

Mahmoud Khalil speaks to members of the media in June 2024. The graduate student, who has played a prominent role in pro-Palestinian protests at New York's Columbia University, has been arrested as part of President Donald Trump's promised crackdown on some anti-Israel activists. © Reuters

March 10, 2025 14:49 JST

NEW YORK (Reuters) -- U.S. immigration agents arrested a Palestinian graduate student who has played a prominent role in pro-Palestinian protests at New York's Columbia University as part of U.S. President Donald Trump's promised crackdown on some anti-Israel activists.

Mahmoud Khalil, a student at the university's School of International and Public Affairs, was arrested by U.S. Department of Homeland Security agents at his university residence on Saturday evening, the Student Workers of Columbia labor union said in a statement.