Jeff Carey is a veteran reporter covering sports and architecture. He was the founding editor of the Minneapolis Mini Times, a local paper with a circulation of more than 500,000. He divides his time between the east and west coast.
New York - A federal immigration judge has ordered the deportation of Mahmoud Khalil, a former Columbia University graduate student and Palestinian activist, after he posted a series of critical comments on Facebook about conservative commentator Charlie Kirk in the days following Kirk’s assassination.
Court documents state that the Department of Homeland Security brought the case forward under immigration provisions that allow deportation for conduct deemed “contrary to the public interest.” Officials argued that Khalil’s highly negative remarks, posted shortly after Kirk’s death, constituted inflammatory speech that violated the terms of his visa.
Khalil, who has been in the United States on a student visa that expired earlier this year, disputed the government’s characterization of his posts. Through his attorney, he described his statements as “political critique within the realm of free expression.” His counsel further argued that deportation for online speech sets a “troubling precedent” for non-citizens.
The ruling does not accuse Khalil of involvement in Kirk’s assassination, for which a separate investigation is ongoing. Instead, the order is narrowly focused on his online activity and immigration status.
Reactions to the decision have been sharply divided. Supporters of Kirk have welcomed the outcome, framing it as a measure of accountability in the wake of inflammatory remarks that surfaced during a deeply sensitive time. On the other hand, civil liberties organizations expressed concern that the ruling could have a chilling effect on international students, activists, and other visa holders who engage in controversial political debate.
“Non-citizens have fewer legal protections, but they still have constitutional rights,” said Marcia Cohen, an immigration law professor at Georgetown University. “This case is unusual in that speech, not conduct, triggered a deportation order. We may see appeals on First Amendment grounds.”
Khalil’s legal team has indicated plans to appeal the ruling to the Board of Immigration Appeals. He remains in federal custody pending that process, which could extend for months.
A spokesperson for the Department of Justice declined to comment on whether Khalil’s deportation case signaled a broader shift in how political expression by foreign nationals is handled. For now, the court order marks a significant escalation in the legal aftermath surrounding public responses to Charlie Kirk’s assassination.
Jeff Carey is a veteran reporter covering sports and architecture. He was the founding editor of the Minneapolis Mini Times, a local paper with a circulation of more than 500,000. He divides his time between the east and west coast.
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