Mahmoud Khalil’s 104 days in ICE Detention
Summary
Mahmoud Khalil discusses his memoir, *No Land to Stand On*, detailing his 104 days in immigration detention after being arrested for his role in pro-Palestinian protests at Columbia University. He recounts the trauma of missing his wife’s labor and his son’s birth, as well as the harsh conditions of the Louisiana facility where he was held. Khalil addresses the government’s attempt to deport him under a novel foreign policy provision and his subsequent lawsuit against Columbia for failing to protect him from harassment. The conversation also explores his background as a Palestinian refugee …
Topics discussed
NPR Politics and Fresh Air introductions
Mahmoud Khalil's background and deportation
The meaning of a green card and refugee status
Life in New York with pregnant wife Noor
The arrest and initial detention experience
Role as negotiator at Columbia University
Isolation and fear during the first days
Government charges and Trump's comments
Legal overreach and the rule of law
Views on Hamas and Palestinian politics
Refusing to condemn Hamas on premise
Conditions inside the Louisiana detention center
Stories of other detainees in the facility
Hearing his son's birth over the phone
Visitation policies and family separation
Coping mechanisms and emotional detachment
Being shot in 2011 and his mother's story
Anti-Semitism and solidarity at Columbia
Legal battles and community support
Why he refuses to leave the United States
Closing remarks and Columbia statement
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