Mahmoud Khalil, a former Columbia University student known for his involvement in anti-Israel protests, is scheduled to appear on campus Tuesday evening to promote his new memoir, "No Land to Stand On." The event, hosted by Columbia’s Center for Palestine Studies and the Simon and June Li Center for Global Journalism, has ignited anger among Jewish alumni.
Khalil was arrested and held in ICE custody for 104 days following anti-Israel protests at the Manhattan university in 2024. His memoir details his time in federal detention. A flyer for the event describes the book as "A revelatory and powerful testament of protest, courage, and imprisonment in America’s deportation regime."
This is not Khalil's first return to campus since his release from custody in June 2025. However, the invitation by a university group has drawn sharp criticism from campus Jewish organizations. Ari Shrage, president of the Columbia University Jewish Alumni Association, expressed dismay, stating, "We are appalled that, after the enormous reputational damage Khalil’s behavior inflicted on the University, the Journalism school would stoop to inviting him back to campus." Shrage added, "At a time when Columbia should be working to restore public trust and rebuild its reputation, this decision suggests that the University has learned nothing."
Khalil was a negotiator for demonstrators who occupied the campus from 2023 to 2024, advocating for the university to divest from Israel. The protests led to the Trump administration threatening to withhold $400 million in funding from Columbia for its handling of antisemitism. The university subsequently made concessions to prevent similar demonstrations.
Khalil, a Syrian-born permanent U.S. resident and former Columbia student married to a U.S. citizen, became a prominent figure during the protests. His arrest by the Trump administration was based on allegations of lying on his green card application. A New Jersey federal judge later ruled his detention was retaliatory, but a Louisiana judge subsequently ordered his deportation due to alleged omissions on his green card application.
Khalil has filed lawsuits against the U.S. government, alleging violations of his rights, including freedom of speech. Columbia University, in response to the criticism, stated that inviting Khalil to speak aligns with the university's support for academic freedom and does not signify endorsement of his views. A university spokesperson said, "Columbia supports the right of faculty members to organize academic events. An invitation to speak does not signify University endorsement of a speaker’s views. We remain committed to rigorous debate, inquiry, and respectful dialogue across differing perspectives."