How Mahmoud Khalil’s arrest threatens free speech on US campuses

March 13, 2025

DHAKA – On a damp March morning, the usual chatter of student life on campuses across the US felt eerily subdued. Just weeks ago, pro-Palestinian student protests had drawn thousands into vibrant encampments, their banners calling for an end to US military aid to Israel. Now, with the sudden arrest of Mahmoud Khalil, a graduate student of Palestinian ancestry, and the looming threat of deportation, a shadow had fallen over student activism. What had once felt like a fundamental right—the freedom to protest—was beginning to feel like a dangerous gamble.

Khalil was detained by federal immigration authorities on allegations that he had engaged in activities “aligned with Hamas.” Tricia McLaughlin, a spokesperson for the Department of Homeland Security, in fact, said that the arrest was carried out “in support of President (Donald) Trump’s executive orders prohibiting antisemitism.” His green card now hangs in the balance, and his case has become the latest flashpoint in the escalating crackdown on student dissent. For international students across the country, the arrest signalled a grim new reality: their voices could cost them their future in the US. While Khalil’s case has raised concerns among international students, it’s important to note that he is a legal permanent resident, not someone on a student visa. However, there are broader implications for student activists.

The US has drawn millions of students from around the world, making its universities global centres of innovation, research, and intellectual debate. But these latest government actions risk dismantling the very foundation of that appeal. International students, often seen as guests rather than stakeholders, have always walked a