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Gone quiet · last update Oct 21, 2026 / Mahmoud Khalil

The Israel-Hamas war: the Trump administration's bid to deport student activists

Overview · reviewed October 28, 2026

The Trump administration detained noncitizen students and activists and sought their deportation over pro-Palestinian advocacy beginning in 2025. The cases produced separate fights over detention, immigration removal and constitutional rights. Federal judges found the administration had unlawfully targeted protected speech, while appeals courts reversed some release orders and immigration judges dismissed individual deportation cases.[1][2][3][4][5][6][7]

Read the timeline

Follow this story to see new developments when you return.

Coverage over time

Share of tracked outlets · weekly (UTC)

Week of 2025-03-03 (UTC): 8%, 17 of 202 tracked outlets (5 left, 8 center, 4 right)Week of 2025-03-10 (UTC): 28%, 56 of 198 tracked outlets (19 left, 24 center, 13 right)Week of 2025-03-17 (UTC): 8%, 15 of 195 tracked outlets (4 left, 10 center, 1 right)Week of 2025-03-24 (UTC): no coverage from tracked outletsWeek of 2025-03-31 (UTC): 8%, 17 of 205 tracked outlets (1 left, 12 center, 4 right)Week of 2025-04-07 (UTC): 23%, 45 of 194 tracked outlets (12 left, 22 center, 11 right)Week of 2025-04-14 (UTC): 11%, 23 of 201 tracked outlets (4 left, 16 center, 3 right)Week of 2025-04-21 (UTC): no coverage from tracked outletsWeek of 2025-04-28 (UTC): 8%, 16 of 204 tracked outlets (7 left, 7 center, 2 right)Week of 2025-05-05 (UTC): no coverage from tracked outletsWeek of 2025-05-12 (UTC): no coverage from tracked outletsWeek of 2025-05-19 (UTC): no coverage from tracked outletsWeek of 2025-05-26 (UTC): 6%, 12 of 191 tracked outlets (3 left, 8 center, 1 right)Week of 2025-06-02 (UTC): no coverage from tracked outletsWeek of 2025-06-09 (UTC): 12%, 24 of 199 tracked outlets (9 left, 9 center, 6 right)Week of 2025-06-16 (UTC): 17%, 20 of 118 tracked outlets (8 left, 5 center, 7 right)Week of 2025-06-23 (UTC): no coverage from tracked outletsWeek of 2025-06-30 (UTC): no coverage from tracked outletsWeek of 2025-07-07 (UTC): no coverage from tracked outletsWeek of 2025-07-14 (UTC): no coverage from tracked outletsWeek of 2025-07-21 (UTC): no coverage from tracked outletsWeek of 2025-07-28 (UTC): no coverage from tracked outletsWeek of 2025-08-04 (UTC): no coverage from tracked outletsWeek of 2025-08-11 (UTC): no coverage from tracked outletsWeek of 2025-08-18 (UTC): no coverage from tracked outletsWeek of 2025-08-25 (UTC): no coverage from tracked outletsWeek of 2025-09-01 (UTC): no coverage from tracked outletsWeek of 2025-09-08 (UTC): no coverage from tracked outletsWeek of 2025-09-15 (UTC): no coverage from tracked outletsWeek of 2025-09-22 (UTC): no coverage from tracked outletsWeek of 2025-09-29 (UTC): 10%, 20 of 202 tracked outlets (10 left, 5 center, 5 right)Week of 2025-10-06 (UTC): no coverage from tracked outletsWeek of 2025-10-13 (UTC): no coverage from tracked outletsWeek of 2025-10-20 (UTC): 2%, 4 of 194 tracked outlets (1 left, 2 center, 1 right)Week of 2025-10-27 (UTC): no coverage from tracked outletsWeek of 2025-11-03 (UTC): no coverage from tracked outletsWeek of 2025-11-10 (UTC): no coverage from tracked outletsWeek of 2025-11-17 (UTC): no coverage from tracked outletsWeek of 2025-11-24 (UTC): no coverage from tracked outletsWeek of 2025-12-01 (UTC): no coverage from tracked outletsWeek of 2025-12-08 (UTC): no coverage from tracked outletsWeek of 2025-12-15 (UTC): no coverage from tracked outletsWeek of 2025-12-22 (UTC): no coverage from tracked outletsWeek of 2025-12-29 (UTC): no coverage from tracked outletsWeek of 2026-01-05 (UTC): no coverage from tracked outletsWeek of 2026-01-12 (UTC): 6%, 11 of 191 tracked outlets (4 left, 2 center, 5 right)Week of 2026-01-19 (UTC): no coverage from tracked outletsWeek of 2026-01-26 (UTC): no coverage from tracked outletsWeek of 2026-02-02 (UTC): no coverage from tracked outletsWeek of 2026-02-09 (UTC): 8%, 14 of 180 tracked outlets (5 left, 8 center, 1 right)Week of 2026-02-16 (UTC): 4%, 8 of 178 tracked outlets (4 left, 1 center, 3 right)Week of 2026-02-23 (UTC): no coverage from tracked outletsWeek of 2026-03-02 (UTC): no coverage from tracked outletsWeek of 2026-03-09 (UTC): no coverage from tracked outletsWeek of 2026-03-16 (UTC): 8%, 14 of 178 tracked outlets (5 left, 9 center, 0 right)Week of 2026-03-23 (UTC): no coverage from tracked outletsWeek of 2026-03-30 (UTC): no coverage from tracked outletsWeek of 2026-04-06 (UTC): no coverage from tracked outletsWeek of 2026-04-13 (UTC): no coverage from tracked outletsWeek of 2026-04-20 (UTC): no coverage from tracked outletsWeek of 2026-04-27 (UTC): no coverage from tracked outletsWeek of 2026-05-04 (UTC): no coverage from tracked outletsWeek of 2026-05-11 (UTC): no coverage from tracked outletsWeek of 2026-05-18 (UTC): no coverage from tracked outletsWeek of 2026-05-25 (UTC): no coverage from tracked outletsWeek of 2026-06-01 (UTC): no coverage from tracked outletsWeek of 2026-06-08 (UTC): no coverage from tracked outletsWeek of 2026-06-15 (UTC): no coverage from tracked outletsWeek of 2026-06-22 (UTC): no coverage from tracked outletsWeek of 2026-06-29 (UTC): no coverage from tracked outletsWeek of 2026-07-06 (UTC): no coverage from tracked outletsWeek of 2026-07-13 (UTC): 4%, 25 of 559 tracked outlets (10 left, 8 center, 7 right)Week of 2026-07-20 (UTC): 3%, 15 of 562 tracked outlets (5 left, 4 center, 6 right)Week of 2026-07-27 (UTC): no coverage from tracked outletsWeek of 2026-08-03 (UTC): no coverage from tracked outletsWeek of 2026-08-10 (UTC): no coverage from tracked outletsWeek of 2026-08-17 (UTC): no coverage from tracked outletsWeek of 2026-08-24 (UTC): 5%, 22 of 466 tracked outlets (7 left, 13 center, 2 right)Week of 2026-08-31 (UTC): under 1%, 1 of 475 tracked outlets (0 left, 1 center, 0 right)Week of 2026-09-07 (UTC): no coverage from tracked outletsWeek of 2026-09-14 (UTC): no coverage from tracked outletsWeek of 2026-09-21 (UTC): no coverage from tracked outletsWeek of 2026-09-28 (UTC): no coverage from tracked outletsWeek of 2026-10-05 (UTC): 1%, 5 of 479 tracked outlets (0 left, 0 center, 5 right)Week of 2026-10-12 (UTC): 1%, 3 of 476 tracked outlets (0 left, 0 center, 3 right)Week of 2026-10-19 (UTC): 3%, 15 of 479 tracked outlets (2 left, 4 center, 9 right)Week of 2026-10-26 (UTC): no coverage from tracked outletsWeek of 2026-11-02 (UTC): no coverage from tracked outletsWeek of 2026-11-09 (UTC): no coverage from tracked outlets, so far

LeftCenterRightLighter bar: this week so far

Each bar is the share of the outlets on our Left / Center / Right rating scale that we tracked publishing that week which carried reporting on this story, split by the outlets' ratings. We track more outlets now than in the archive, so a share keeps earlier and later weeks comparable. An outlet counts once a week however much it published, and outlets in one ownership or syndication group count as one on each side they appear on. A rating describes the outlet, not the report. A gap means no such reports were collected that week, not that nothing was reported anywhere. Weeks run Monday to Sunday in UTC, so a report published on a Sunday evening in US Eastern time counts in the next week. 7 more outlets off the scale (not rated, or outside the left-right graphs) also reported; they are not in this chart. See them.

Weekly counts, outlets and reports (23 weeks with coverage)
Outlets on the rating scale that carried this story each week, of the outlets tracked that week, newest first
Week of (UTC)LeftCenterRightOf trackedShareReceipts
Oct 19, 202624915 of 4793%
Oct 12, 20260033 of 4761%
Oct 5, 20260055 of 4791%
Aug 31, 20260101 of 475under 1%
Aug 24, 2026713222 of 4665%
Jul 20, 202654615 of 5623%
Jul 13, 2026108725 of 5594%
Mar 16, 202659014 of 1788%
Feb 16, 20264138 of 1784%
Feb 9, 202658114 of 1808%
Jan 12, 202642511 of 1916%
Oct 20, 20251214 of 1942%
Sep 29, 2025105520 of 20210%
Jun 16, 202585720 of 11817%
Jun 9, 202599624 of 19912%
May 26, 202538112 of 1916%
Apr 28, 202577216 of 2048%
Apr 14, 2025416323 of 20111%
Apr 7, 202512221145 of 19423%
Mar 31, 2025112417 of 2058%
Mar 17, 2025410115 of 1958%
Mar 10, 202519241356 of 19828%
Mar 3, 202558417 of 2028%

Latest coverage

The newest reporting in this story's record.

  1. Oct 21, 2026 · first reported · Headline from New York Post

    Trump channels George Washington in the fight to deport Mahmoud Khalil

Background

Federal immigration agents arrested Mahmoud Khalil, a Palestinian activist who helped lead protests at Columbia University, in March 2025.[1][8] Khalil was a lawful permanent resident. The administration accused him of supporting Hamas; his lawyers denied involvement with the group.[9] An immigration judge ruled in April that he could be deported after the government argued that his presence posed foreign-policy risks.[10] In June, a federal judge ordered his release from detention in Louisiana after more than three months.[11] A federal appeals panel later reversed the decision that had freed him.[3] In October 2026, Khalil asked the Supreme Court to overturn a ruling that opened the door to his re-arrest, arguing that federal judges should be able to review immigration detention before deportation cases end.[12]

Read the full background (3 more paragraphs)

Mohsen Mahdawi, another Palestinian activist who led Columbia protests, was arrested in April 2025 at a Vermont immigration office where he expected a citizenship interview.[13] A judge ordered his release later that month.[14] In February 2026, a judge dismissed his deportation case in a separate immigration proceeding because government lawyers had failed to certify a document they intended to use as evidence.[6] In July 2026, an appeals court overturned the April 2025 release order because it found the lower court lacked jurisdiction.[4]

Other detainees also challenged removal or secured release. In February 2026, an immigration judge terminated deportation proceedings against Tufts doctoral student Rumeysa Ozturk, according to her lawyers.[5] In March, Leqaa Kordia was released on bond after a year in detention. Reports described her as the last person still detained in the administration's 2025 crackdown on pro-Palestinian activists.[15]

Broader constitutional challenges proceeded alongside the individual cases. In September 2025, US District Judge William Young found that the administration had unconstitutionally targeted noncitizens for deportation over Gaza-war protests.[2] In July 2026, Khalil filed a lawsuit alleging that officials and private groups conspired to suppress criticism of Israel.[16] In August, a federal judge in California ruled against the administration's use of immigration laws to revoke visas and seek deportation based on students' pro-Palestinian advocacy.[7]

Supporting stories (16)
  1. ICE arrests Palestinian activist who helped lead Columbia University protests, his lawyer says
  2. Judge finds the Trump administration unconstitutionally targeted noncitizens over Gaza war protests
  3. Appeals court reverses decision that freed pro-Palestinian activist Mahmoud Khalil
  4. Appeals court reverses decision that freed pro-Palestinian Columbia activist Mohsen Mahdawi
  5. Immigration judge rejects Trump effort to deport pro-Palestinian Tufts student
  6. Judge blocks deportation of Palestinian activist who led protests at Columbia
  7. Trump Cannot Deport Students for Criticizing Israel, Judge Rules
  8. Arrest of Palestinian activist stirs questions about protections for students and green card holders
  9. Palestinian activist Mahmoud Khalil will remain in ICE detention in Louisiana after first court hearing
  10. Immigration judge rules that Columbia University activist Mahmoud Khalil can be deported
  11. Ex-Columbia student Mahmoud Khalil released from ICE detention after judge's order
  12. Activist Mahmoud Khalil asks Supreme Court to let US judges quickly reverse immigration detentions
  13. A Palestinian activist expecting a US citizenship interview is arrested instead by ICE in Vermont
  14. Judge releases a Palestinian student activist who was arrested at his US citizenship interview
  15. Palestinian protester held in immigration detention for over a year is released
  16. Mahmoud Khalil files suit alleging a 'public-private' conspiracy to target Israel's critics

The full record

Each date is when an update was first reported.

All 29 recorded updates

October 2026

  1. Why George Washington Would Deport Mahmoud KhalilHeadline from Patriot Post · 4 outlets
  2. Activist Mahmoud Khalil asks Supreme Court to let US judges quickly reverse immigration detentionsHeadline from Philadelphia Inquirer · 14 outlets
  3. David Harsanyi: America owes Mahmoud Khalil nothingHeadline from Grand Forks Herald · 3 outlets
  4. America Owes Mahmoud Khalil NothingHeadline from Conservative Daily News · 5 outlets

August 2026

  1. Trump Cannot Deport Students for Criticizing Israel, Judge RulesHeadline from KQED News · 25 outlets

July 2026

  1. Appeals court reverses decision that freed pro-Palestinian Columbia activist Mohsen MahdawiHeadline from Seattle Times · 18 outlets
  2. Mahmoud Khalil files suit alleging a 'public-private' conspiracy to target Israel's criticsHeadline from Washington Times · 29 outlets

March 2026

  1. Palestinian protester held in immigration detention for over a year is releasedHeadline from KESQ Palm Springs · 17 outlets

February 2026

  1. Judge blocks deportation of Palestinian activist who led protests at ColumbiaHeadline from Seattle Times · 9 outlets
  2. Immigration judge rejects Trump effort to deport pro-Palestinian Tufts studentHeadline from Al-Monitor · 17 outlets

January 2026

  1. Appeals court reverses decision that freed pro-Palestinian activist Mahmoud KhalilHeadline from Bangor Daily News · 14 outlets

October 2025

  1. Mahmoud Khalil appears in appeals court as Trump administration continues efforts to deport himHeadline from MyNorthwest · 4 outlets

September 2025

  1. Judge finds the Trump administration unconstitutionally targeted noncitizens over Gaza war protestsHeadline from WTOP Washington DC · 22 outlets

June 2025

  1. Ex-Columbia student Mahmoud Khalil released from ICE detention after judge's orderHeadline from UPI · 21 outlets
  2. Judge denies Palestinian activist Mahmoud Khalil's request for releaseHeadline from ABC 7 Los Angeles · 11 outlets
  3. Judge says government must release Columbia protester Mahmoud Khalil, but has until Friday to appealHeadline from Seattle Times · 6 outlets
  4. Federal judge rules anti-Israel activist Mahmoud Khalil cannot be deported or detained by Trump adminHeadline from New York Post · 10 outlets

May 2025

  1. Trump admin's effort to deport Mahmoud Khalil is likely unconstitutional, judge rulesHeadline from NBC News · 14 outlets

April 2025

  1. Judge releases a Palestinian student activist who was arrested at his US citizenship interviewHeadline from The Republic · 17 outlets
  2. A Palestinian activist expecting a US citizenship interview is arrested instead by ICE in VermontHeadline from KOB 4 · 26 outlets
  3. Immigration judge rules that Columbia University activist Mahmoud Khalil can be deportedHeadline from KVOA Tucson · 48 outlets

March 2025

  1. Judge rejects Trump administration’s bid to move Mahmoud Khalil’s legal case to LouisianaHeadline from MyNorthwest · 19 outlets
  2. Columbia grad says detention is indicative of anti-Palestinian racism in the USHeadline from NBC Los Angeles · 3 outlets
  3. Federal judge orders Palestinian activist Mahmoud Khalil’s case to be moved to New JerseyHeadline from CNN · 10 outlets
  4. Detained Columbia University student activist Mahmoud Khalil appears in immigration caseHeadline from The Boston Globe · 11 outlets

Coverage & sources

Read the reports, see how much was collected over time, or compare outlets by political leaning.

Coverage & sources →