Harvard Jewish Groups Urge Universities to Condemn Palestinian Activist’s Arrest

The statement, which has gathered nearly 3,000 signatures from faculty, staff, and students across US universities, was issued in response to Khalil’s detention. Khalil, a green card holder and recent Columbia University graduate, played a key role in organizing campus protests last year.

“We are united in denouncing, without equivocation, anyone who invokes our name — and cynical claims of antisemitism — to harass, expel, arrest, or deport members of our campus communities,” the statement read.

It also urged universities to “reject the dangerous narrative” that equates pro-Palestinian activism with antisemitism.

The signatories called on university leaders to take specific actions, including ending cooperation with federal immigration authorities, allocating “institutional resources” to help secure Khalil’s release, and protecting affiliates from retaliation by the Donald Trump administration for expressing their views.

Harvard University President Alan M. Garber has criticized the Trump administration’s decision to cut federal research funding but has largely remained silent on other measures, including Khalil’s arrest, the $400 million funding cut to Columbia University over campus protests, and the $175 million penalty imposed on the University of Pennsylvania over its policies on transgender athletes.

Khalil was arrested by Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents on March 8 at his university-owned apartment after US Secretary of State Marco Rubio revoked his student visa and green card.

The Trump administration has accused Khalil, who played a leading role in pro-Palestinian demonstrations at Columbia last year, of engaging in “activities aligned with Hamas.” No public evidence has been provided to support the claim.