According to the New York Post, Mamdani has been acting as a public advocate for Khalil during the legal battle over his immigration status.

Khalil has been accused of organizing protest encampments at Columbia, some of which turned violent and included pro-Hamas rhetoric.

Khalil served as spokesperson for the Gaza Solidarity Encampments at Columbia, often appearing unmasked at the front lines of protests that disrupted campus operations and created hostile environments for Jewish students.

Anti-Israel protest leader Mahmoud Khalil appeared on CNN and refused to condemn Hamas, claiming it was disingenuous to ask him to do so while Israel is supposedly starving and massacring Palestinians.

The 30-year-old, a recent Columbia University graduate and U.S. permanent resident, remained in custody until June 20, when a federal judge ordered his release on bail.

Khalil’s legal team argued that his continued detention was causing 'irreparable harm' to his academic career, personal life, and constitutional right to free speech.

'This isn’t about protesting. It’s about unlawful conduct.'

'For some reason, Jews get treated differently to anybody else when it comes to this kind of thing.'

Senator Josh Hawley slams the defense of violent agitators on college campuses on grounds of 'free speech.'

Mahmoud Khalil has been arrested by ICE agents and faces deportation for supporting Hamas and intimidating Jews during campus protests and encampments that raged last year following the October 7th massacre in Israel.