# Columbia graduate detained by Ice was respected British government employee

Mahmoud Khalil described by former colleague at UK office for Syria as well liked and extensively vetted

## A detained Columbia University graduate threatened with deportation after the Trump administration claimed he poses a risk to US foreign policy is a former employee of the British government who was extensively vetted before working at the embassy in Beirut.

### Mahmoud Khalil

A recent graduate from a Columbia University master’s programme, , a detainee from a Columbia University master’s programme, was arrested at home on 9 March as he returned with his wife from a dinner to break their fast during the Muslim holy month of Ramadan.

The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) accused him of leading “activities aligned to Hamas, a designated terrorist organisation”.

### Jeffery Dean

The White House has not specified publicly or in court that Khalil has committed any crime, or how this invalidates his status as a US legal permanent resident. The Trump administration has instead sought to use a provision within immigration law specifying that the secretary of state, , “has reasonable grounds to believe that your presence or activities in the United States would have potentially serious adverse foreign policy consequences for the United States”, according to a charging document provided to Khalil.

### Andrew Waller

Andrew Waller, a former British diplomat who worked with Khalil at the UK office for Syria, a diplomatic mission housed inside the British embassy in Beirut, described Khalil as a thoughtful individual and highly valued colleague during his government service.

> “This is a naked example of the US administration arresting someone for their political opinions, and I think the British government should be exercised about this,” said Waller.
>
> “He is a former British government employee who was vetted and well liked.”

### Karoline Leavitt

Waller added that the British government was entirely dependent on non-British nationals working at embassies worldwide to provide the language skills and local knowledge needed to operate. Khalil worked for years on the British government’s flagship grant programme that brings foreign students to study at UK universities, as well as in a support role for which he helped to inform and shape British foreign policy on Syria through his knowledge and Arabic skills.

> “The British government relies on people like Mahmoud all over the world,” he said. “Without them the UK could not operate overseas. It could not conduct diplomatic activity without this raft of employees who do this kind of work.”

### Dean Cobb

Khalil was subject to extensive background checks to obtain a green card last year, said Waller, which granted him legal permanent residency as the spouse of an American citizen.

> “He would not have been granted it if they truly believed he was a threat. The only difference is a change in the executive, which is incredibly concerning,” she said.

### Samah Sisay

Waller pointed to the extensive background checks and screening, including about his political views and those held by his family, that Khalil had been through in order to work for the British government, and then later to obtain a US green card.

> “It’s completely absurd that US government is saying Mahmoud presents a threat to its foreign policy interests,” said Sisay.
>
> “They don’t even say national security interests ... they are not accusing him of specific terrorist or criminal activity, they are just saying a discretionary belief by the secretary of state is enough to deport him.”

### KDNT

Khalil was involved in the protests on the Columbia campus over the last year. Following his arrest, the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) accused him of leading “activities aligned to Hamas, a designated terrorist organisation”.

### JD Vance

A spokesperson for Columbia University referred instead to a statement by the interim president, Katrina Armstrong, earlier this week pledging to “follow the law”, and underlining a “commitment to freedom of speech”.

### Jelani Cobb

“Nobody can protect you,” said Cobb, advising them to avoid filling their social media with commentary on the Middle East. Karle reportedly warned the students to avoid coverage of protests of Khalil’s arrest.

### Jelani Cobb

Both Waller and Khalil’s lawyer, Samah Sisay, pointed to the extensive background checks and screening, including about his political views and those held by his family, that Khalil had been through in order to work for the British government, and then later to obtain a US green card.

> “It’s completely absurd that US government is saying Mahmoud presents a threat to its foreign policy interests,” said Sisay.
>
> “They don’t even say national security interests ... they are not accusing him of specific terrorist or criminal activity, they are just saying a discretionary belief by the secretary of state is enough to deport him.”

### JD Vance

Khalil was subject to extensive background checks to obtain a green card last year, said Waller, which granted him legal permanent residency as the spouse of an American citizen.

### Andrew Waller

Waller added that his friend and former colleague was motivated by a desire to help others after his family fled Syria in 2012.

> “He is a political exile from Syria, who fled the oppressive regime and civil war there. Everything he has done has been driven by a sense of basic humanitarian mission and a sense of justice, to try and help people less fortunate,” he said.

The former diplomat also pointed to 's comments during a visit by Keir Starmer, when the US vice-president described “infringements to free speech in the UK”.

> “Given that the US has just reprimanded the UK on freedom of speech extremely publicly, the least the British government could do is to say they are concerned about Mahmoud’s case and the free speech violation it so clearly represents,” said Waller.
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