Mahmoud Khalil

The right to protest injustice is a cornerstone of any free society. But today, students who speak out for Palestine are being treated as threats instead of voices of conscience.

Since 2024, Columbia University has handed over private student records under political pressure from Congress, setting a dangerous precedent of surveillance and retaliation against campus activists.

As a direct result of colleges handing over private student records, international students have been abducted in broad daylight by ICE.

One of the first students to be targeted was Mahmoud Khalil, a Palestinian graduate student and U.S. green card holder.

In March 2025, Khalil was detained by ICE without reason or legal justification. A lawsuit was filed against Columbia University and Congress for their role in this unconstitutional crackdown. Project TAHA joined the legal fight in June to defend the rights of those who have been unjustly targeted for their speech.

Project TAHA, in partnership with the Council for American-Islamic Relations (CAIR) and Dratel & Lewis, provides pro bono representation to Mahmoud Khalil.

Khalil’s case is not just about one student. It’s about safeguarding the right to dissent, without fear of detention, deportation, or surveillance.

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