Mahmoud Khalil, an anti-Israel activist and Syrian-born green card holder, has petitioned the Supreme Court to overturn a ruling that could lead to his deportation.
What happened
Khalil was arrested by Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) in March 2025 for allegedly participating in activities aligned with Hamas, a designation he denies. He was released from detention in June 2025 by a federal judge in New Jersey.
However, in April, the Board of Immigration Appeals upheld an immigration judge's order that Khalil be deported. A federal appeals court later denied his request for a rehearing to contest his detention.
Khalil's lawyers have argued that the government is attempting to punish him for his pro-Palestine speech and that the deportation proceedings are politically motivated. They have also stated that Khalil is pursuing a separate case in federal court and cannot be detained or deported at this time.
The Supreme Court will consider whether to hear Khalil's case in a closed-door meeting in the coming months. Khalil's lawyers hope that the high court will take up the case this term.
