Activist Faces Deportation Over Alleged Green Card Lies

Mahmoud Khalil is in hot water. The government says he lied on his green card application. They claim he didn't tell the whole truth about his jobs. Khalil worked for the Syria Office at the British Embassy in Beirut. He also worked for the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees. But he didn't mention these jobs when he applied for his green card. Khalil is a big deal in activist circles. He led protests at Columbia University. These protests were about the conflict between Israel and the Palestinian group Hamas. His supporters say he's being targeted for his activism. They think the government is using this as an excuse to kick him out of the country. The government arrested Khalil in March. They used a rarely used law. This law lets them kick out people if they think they're bad for U. S. foreign policy. The government says Khalil's presence in the U. S. could have "adverse foreign policy consequences. " But Khalil's lawyer says this is all about Khalil's political speech. He says Khalil has the right to speak out about what's happening in the world. Khalil's lawyer also says the new charges against Khalil are nonsense. He says the government has no real case against Khalil. He says this is all about Khalil's activism and his right to free speech. The government says Khalil's lies are not protected speech. They say he should have told the truth about his jobs and his membership in certain organizations. The government has not said if working for UNRWA would disqualify someone from getting a visa. They also haven't said if they plan to change their rules about this. But they have said that lying on a visa or green card application is a big no-no. They say things have changed since Donald Trump became president. Khalil was taken from his apartment to a detention center in New Jersey. Then he was sent to a detention center in Louisiana. His supporters have rallied outside the courthouse. They want him to be released. They say he's being targeted for his activism. They say he should be free to speak out about what's happening in the world.