New York City Democratic Mayor Zohran Mamdani on Monday celebrated terrorist sympathizer Mahmoud Khalil, a man the federal government has identified as a threat and has tried to deport. Mamdani proudly took to social media to announce that he welcomed Khalil, an anti-Israel activist, to Gracie Mansion to break the Ramadan fast. The spectacle was a direct challenge to the Trump administration’s efforts to secure the nation. Khalil, a Green Card holder of Palestinian descent, was ordered to be deported. “Khalil led activities aligned to Hamas, a designated terrorist organization,” then-DHS spokesperson Tricia McLaughlin announced last year. Adding, “It is a privilege, not a right to be in this country to live or to study. And if you are pushing propaganda that relishes the killings of Americans or promotes terrorists, the door’s that way.” Mamdani painted Khalil as a victim of “cruelty” who was merely “exercising First Amendment rights.” The mayor used the dinner to double down on the blood libel that Israel is committing “genocide” in “Palestine” — a country that, as a matter of historical fact, has never existed. For Mahmoud Khalil, this past year has been marked by profound hardship—and by profound courage. A year ago, Mahmoud was walking home through our city after sharing an iftar with his wife Noor when he was detained by federal agents, flown to Louisiana, and then held in an ICE… pic.twitter.com/6dBtLh0GeT — Mayor Zohran Kwame Mamdani (@NYCMayor) March 10, 2026 The “genocide” narrative has been thoroughly debunked by military experts. Data shows the Palestinian population has tripled since 1987, making Israel the most “incompetent” practitioner of genocide in human history if the Left’s claims were true. Reports from the Begin-Sadat Center for Strategic Studies confirm that Israel has taken “unprecedented” measures to protect civilians, while Hamas continues to use Gazans as human shields. Khalili’s deportation was not carried out immediately because his lawyers filed a flurry of appeals and federal court challenges. In January 2026, the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Third Circuit ruled that his challenge must proceed through the immigration court system. While this handed the administration a tactical victory by moving the case forward, the court did not order an immediate deportation. Because of these ongoing proceedings, federal authorities have not yet announced a firm deportation date, and it remains unclear exactly when ICE will attempt to detain him again. However, the administration’s stance remains firm: “The door’s that way” for those who push terrorist propaganda. The Trump administration has been clear: living in the United States is a privilege, not a right. As Secretary of State Marco Rubio noted in a memo, “An alien is deportable from the United States if the Secretary of State has reasonable ground to believe that the alien’s presence or activities in the United States would have potentially serious adverse foreign policy consequences for the United States … I have determined that the activities and presence of these aliens in the United States would have potentially serious adverse foreign policy consequences and would compromise a compelling U.S. foreign policy interest,” adding on X, “Those who support designated terrorist organizations, including Hamas, threaten our national security. The United States has zero tolerance for foreign visitors who support terrorists. Violators of U.S. law — including international students — face visa denial or revocation, and deportation.” Those who support designated terrorist organizations, including Hamas, threaten our national security. The United States has zero tolerance for foreign visitors who support terrorists. Violators of U.S. law — including international students — face visa denial or revocation, and… — Secretary Marco Rubio (@SecRubio) March 6, 2025 After Khalil made an appearance on CNN, the Department of Homeland Security stated, “Mahmoud Khalil refuses to condemn Hamas because he IS a terrorist sympathizer not because DHS ‘painted’ him as one. He ‘branded’ himself as an antisemite through his own hateful behavior and rhetoric. It is a privilege to be granted a visa or green card to live and study in the United States of America. The Trump Administration acted well within its statutory and constitutional authority to detain Khalil, as it does with any alien who advocates for violence, glorifies and supports terrorists, harasses Jews, and damages property.” Mahmoud Khalil refuses to condemn Hamas because he IS a terrorist sympathizer not because DHS ‘painted’ him as one. He ‘branded’ himself as antisemite through his own hateful behavior and rhetoric. It is a privilege to be granted a visa or green card to live and study in the… pic.twitter.com/nC2WCR6Dul — Homeland Security (@DHSgov) July 22, 2025