(MENAFN) The U.S. government has intensified its legal action against Mahmoud Khalil, a Columbia University graduate and pro-Palestinian activist, by accusing him of failing to disclose his affiliation with the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees (UNRWA) on his permanent residency application. This new allegation, contained within Homeland Security documents, is viewed by some as an attempt to bypass First Amendment challenges in the ongoing case.

Federal authorities further allege that Khalil did not reveal his involvement with Columbia University Apartheid Divest, a student coalition known for its pro-Palestinian advocacy, nor his previous employment with the Syria Office at the British Embassy in Beirut, Lebanon.

Khalil’s legal representatives assert these accusations are a veiled attempt to retaliate against his constitutionally protected speech. They contend the government is targeting him due to his political activism.

Khalil was detained by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) on March 8 at his university residence, following an order from then Secretary of State Marco Rubio to revoke his student visa and green card. His legal team has filed for his release in New Jersey, separate from the Louisiana immigration proceedings that could result in his deportation.

For the government to proceed with deportation, it must prove that Khalil’s omissions were deliberate and that they would have significantly altered the outcome of his residency application. The case continues to draw scrutiny amid concerns regarding free speech and immigration enforcement.

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