Mahmoud Khalil is a prominent student activist known for his involvement in the pro-Palestinian campus occupations at Columbia University in 2024.
MAHMOUD KHALIL PROFILE
| Name | Mahmoud Khalil |
| Real Name | Mahmoud Khalil |
| Date Of Birth | 1995 |
| Age | 30 Years |
| Nationality | Palestinian – Syrian – Algerian |
| Occupation | Student Activist |
| Religion | Islam |
| Marital Status | Married |
| Net Worth | N/A |
| Copied From | Contents101.com |
MAHMOUD KHALIL BIOGRAPHY
Mahmoud Khalil was born in 1995 in a refugee camp in Damascus, Syria, to Palestinian refugee parents who originally came from Tiberias, a city in modern-day Israel. He often described himself as a “double refugee”, referencing both his Palestinian heritage and his displacement as a Syrian refugee. In 2012, amid the outbreak of the Syrian civil war, Khalil and his family fled to Lebanon, where they lived as refugees.
While living in Lebanon, Khalil worked with Syrian refugees and volunteered with the Syrian-American educational nonprofit Junsoor. During this time, he taught himself English.
EDUCATIONAL BACKGROUND
He simultaneously earned a bachelor’s degree in computer science from the Lebanese American University (LAU) in Beirut.
CAREER
Following his graduation from LAU, Khalil worked with the British government’s Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO). He managed the Chevening Scholarship program from the British embassy in Beirut, where he also assisted diplomats with translation and local knowledge support.
In 2022, Mahmoud Khalil immigrated to the United States on a student visa to pursue a Master’s degree at Columbia University’s School of International and Public Affairs (SIPA). He completed his coursework in December 2024 and was scheduled to graduate officially in May 2025. During his time at SIPA, Khalil interned with the United Nations Relief and Works Agency (UNRWA), which provides support for Palestinian refugees.
In 2024, he was granted a U.S. green card, becoming a lawful permanent resident.
Involvement in 2024 Columbia University Pro-Palestinian Occupations
Mahmoud Khalil became a prominent figure during the 2024 Columbia University pro-Palestinian campus occupations, serving as a student negotiator and activist. His leadership role and visibility made him a symbol of pro-Palestinian advocacy on campus.
CONTROVERSIES
On March 8, 2025, ICE agents arrested Khalil at his apartment, following an order from the U.S. State Department revoking his visa. Despite holding a green card, Khalil was informed his permanent residency had also been revoked. He was transferred to LaSalle Detention Center in Jena, Louisiana.
On March 10, U.S. District Judge Jesse Furman temporarily blocked Khalil’s deportation to allow constitutional review. On March 12, the block was extended.
The federal government cited Section 237(a)(4)(C)(i) of the Immigration and Nationality Act of 1952, which allows deportation of individuals deemed to support terrorist organizations or whose presence conflicts with U.S. foreign policy. Khalil faces no criminal charges, and his detention has sparked widespread criticism, especially from Democratic politicians, civil rights groups, and free speech advocates.
On March 13, 2025, the New York chapter of the Council on American–Islamic Relations (CAIR-NY) announced it had filed a lawsuit against Columbia University on behalf of Mahmoud Khalil and several other students. The lawsuit challenges Columbia’s alleged cooperation with the House of Representatives Committee on Education and the Workforce, which had demanded access to student records as part of its investigation into pro-Palestinian campus activism.
MAHMOUD KHALIL SOCIAL MEDIA HANDLE
Mahmoud Khalil is not active on social media.
PERSONAL LIFE
Mahmoud Khalil is married to Noor Abdalla, a dentist and U.S. citizen. They met in 2016 while working together on a volunteer program in Lebanon. After maintaining a seven-year long-distance relationship, they reunited and married in New York in 2023. The couple is expecting their first child in April 2025.
MAHMOUD KHALIL NET WORTH
As of 2025, there is no verified public information available regarding Mahmoud Khalil’s net worth.