Federal agents are seen arresting Palestinian activist Mahmoud Khalil in a newly released video
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NEW YORK (AP) — A video released Friday shows the moment federal immigration agents arrested Mahmoud Khalil, a Palestinian activist who has sparked controversy, in what the department called the “illegal detention of a U.S. citizen.”

The video shows Khalil's wife, Noor Abdalla, standing outside his apartment building in the heart of Columbia University's West Campus, dressed in military-style uniform. They are surrounded by immigration agents who demand he answer questions and confiscate his passport and cell phone.

“The moment I was about to reach for my phone, a couple of agents forced me to lay down,” Khalil told AP. “I was in the middle of a prison cell. I didn’t know anything about the charges.”

Khalil is a U.S. citizen who is not living in the United States. He is a permanent resident of the university who holds a doctorate in psychology, according to the university website.

Khalil was arrested on March 13 in a small town near the U.S.-Canada border, and the department said it had been investigating his immigration status for several months. He was taken to a federal detention center in Louisiana and faces 12 counts related to immigration, including conducting illegal immigration interviews. He has not been released.

The department said Khalil was “currently held under apprehension” on a federal immigration alert with the federal Bureau of Immigration and Customs.

The video appears to have been released to the public by Khalil's attorney, Brian Corbin. It is the latest in a series of videos he has released showing a different side of his life — one of working on political campaigns and helping his family with other issues.

The video clips include a message from the U.S. Department of State urging him to return to the country and contact his family members. The department also said Khalil hasn't been permitted to contact his family members.

Khalil is a prominent figure in the Palestinian community, having organized demonstrations against Israel in the U.S. and leading an anti-Israel protest in the U.K.

Just two weeks ago, Khalil was arrested following a protest in Canada against Israel. He was taken to a prison in Montreal, where he was released after spending two weeks in detention.
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