New York, N.Y. — On March 14, 2025, a far-right pro-Israel group, Betar US, claimed it has submitted “thousands of names” to Trump administration officials as part of a broader effort to deport international students involved in pro-Palestinian protests on U.S. college campuses.

The announcement follows the arrest of Mahmoud Khalil, a Palestinian activist and recent Columbia University graduate, whose detention has sparked both support and outrage across the nation. Betar US, labeled an extremist organization by the Anti-Defamation League (ADL), stated it has been compiling a “deportation list” targeting visa holders who participated in such demonstrations, alleging they “terrorize America.”

The arrest of Khalil, who was a key figure in Columbia’s Gaza solidarity encampment, aligns with President Donald Trump’s recent executive order aimed at combating antisemitism. Trump hailed Khalil’s detention as “the first of many to come,” a sentiment echoed by Betar US, which took credit on social media for providing his name to authorities.

The group’s spokesperson, Daniel Levy, told the Guardian that their list includes students and faculty from institutions like Columbia, UCLA, and Syracuse University, supported by “documentation, including tapes, social media, and more.” Betar claims to be coordinating with high-ranking officials, including Secretary of State Marco Rubio and White House homeland security adviser Stephen Miller, though neither the White House nor the State Department has confirmed these collaborations.

Ross Glick, Betar US’ former executive director, revealed that the list began taking shape last fall, with its momentum boosted by Trump’s election victory. Glick said the group has relied on tips from students, faculty, and even advanced facial recognition technology to identify protesters, including those wearing masks. He cited meetings with lawmakers like Senator Ted Cruz, who reportedly discussed Khalil’s case days before his arrest, though Cruz’s office declined to comment.

Khalil’s arrest has ignited a firestorm of debate.

Free-speech advocates rallied outside a Manhattan federal courthouse on Wednesday, waving flags and demanding his release from a Louisiana detention center, arguing that his detention violates democratic principles. Videos of Khalil at a Barnard sit-in, circulated by pro-Israel accounts like Canary Mission, fueled calls for his deportation, with some accusing him of supporting Hamas—a charge he denies.

In emails to Columbia’s administration before his arrest, Khalil described a “dehumanizing doxxing campaign” and pleaded for protection, citing death threats and Betar’s claim that Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) knew his whereabouts.

White House push to deport students divides American Jewish communities.

The ADL welcomed the effort as a counter to campus antisemitism but stressed the need for due process. Conversely, progressive Jewish groups, including the Jewish Council for Public Affairs, condemned it as a threat to free speech, warning that such policies could be turned against minority communities, including Jews, as they have in the past. David Myers, a UCLA professor of Jewish history, called Betar’s actions “horrifying” and accused the administration of weaponizing antisemitism to undermine universities as progressive strongholds.

Betar is not alone in its campaign. Canary Mission, an online database targeting alleged anti-Israel figures, celebrated Khalil’s arrest and released names of five additional Columbia affiliates it wants deported. Meanwhile, White House spokesperson Karoline Leavitt accused Columbia of shielding “pro-Hamas” individuals, a claim the university has not addressed.

As protests continue, with flag-waving demonstrators on both sides of the issue, Khalil’s case remains in legal limbo. His detention is under challenge in federal court, while Betar vows to expand its efforts, even hinting at targeting naturalized citizens—a move Trump has suggested but which faces significant legal hurdles.

The controversy underscores a deepening national rift over free expression, immigration, and the role of universities in politically charged times.

Pro-Israel Group Submits Thousands of Names for Deportation (March 14, 2025)

#DeportationList, #MahmoudKhalil, #ProIsraelGroups,
#TrumpPolicy, #FreeSpeech, #CampusProtests