Mahmoud Khalil was just trying to finish his master's degree at Columbia University when, in March 2025, plain-clothed Department of Homeland Security officers decided to spice up his morning by snatching him from his New York home and whisking him off to an immigration detention centre. Because nothing says 'land of the free' like a surprise rendition before breakfast.

He was then transferred to another facility in Louisiana, more than 1,000 miles away - presumably because the government wanted to make sure his legal team had plenty of frequent flyer miles. As a green card holder, Khalil has permanent US residency, but Secretary of State Marco Rubio had determined that his continued presence would have 'adverse foreign policy consequences for the United States.' That's a fancy way of saying they didn't like his politics, invoking a legal provision that dates back to the McCarthy era - because why fix what isn't broke?

Khalil was released on bail in June 2024 after a federal judge ruled his detention unconstitutional, but the Trump administration is still trying to have him removed. Because nothing says 'we respect the rule of law' like continuing to fight a ruling you lost.

For those keeping score: Khalil was born to Palestinian parents in a refugee camp in Syria and had been targeted because of his advocacy on behalf of pro-Palestinian protesters during campus protests over Columbia University's links to Israel. The protesters were calling for Columbia to cut ties with Israeli academic institutions and companies profiting from Israel's onslaught on Gaza. In response, the university called in the NYPD - because nothing de-escalates a situation like armed police on campus.

There was no suggestion that Khalil had done anything unlawful, and no criminal charges were brought against him. The government had simply identified him as an influential pro-Palestinian voice on campus, and for that reason alone, they wanted him gone. He spent a total of 104 days in detention, missing the birth of his son. Because nothing says 'family values' like separating a father from his newborn.

In his book, Khalil writes about this Kafkaesque ordeal with a quiet fury - which, given the circumstances, seems remarkably restrained. Most of us would have opted for a loud fury and possibly some property damage.