Hyderabad, March 13 -- The wife of Mahmoud Khalil, a Palestinian activist and Columbia University graduate student, who was arrested on Saturday, March 8, has called for urgent action, urging supporters to pressure authorities for his immediate release.

Khalil, a US green card holder, was taken into custody by Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents while returning to his university-owned apartment in Manhattan. His arrest is reportedly linked to his role in organising protests against the Israel-Hamas war at Columbia in 2024.

Mahmoud Khalil speaks to the press at Columbia University on June 1, 2024. Photo: Reuters

The arrest follows US President Donald Trump's pledge, made during his first week in office, to arrest, deport, o...