A DHS official defended Khalil’s detention in an interview on Thursday but did not provide additional details for his arrest.

Trying to deport Khalil for demonstrating against Israel is an obvious violation of his rights and an attempt to intimidate others, they say.

Attorneys for Mahmoud Khalil shared video of his arrest inside his university-owned residence last weekend. The clip shows immigration agents confronting Khalil in the building’s lobby.

The Trump administration has not been subtle about its intentions. A White House official, speaking anonymously to the Free Press, told the right-leaning media organization that Khalil’s arrest would be a “blueprint” for other actions.

A newly released video shows the moment federal immigration agents arrested Mahmoud Khalil, a prominent Palestinian activist whose detention has sparked waves of protest across the country.

Palestinian activist Mahmoud Khalil by Immigrations and Custom Enforcement agents. The video was taken by his wife Noor Abdalla, who is eight months pregnant, the ACLU said. The arrest happened Saturday night at their home in Columbia University campus housing.

I was a student at Columbia University, where I covered tense campus protests over the Israel-Hamas war for the college newspaper and for POLITICO. So I’m familiar with Mahmoud Khalil, a former Columbia student who I’ve chatted with in the past and appears to be the first target of the Trump administration’s effort to crack down on student protesters.

Noor Abdalla, wife of detained Palestinian Columbia University student Mahmoud Khalil, says she thought her husband didn't have to worry about ICE.