Pales-tinian activist and US green card holder Mahmoud Khalil is expected to be deported to Algeria, according to a senior US official, marking a significant escalation in the government’s case against the pro-Pales-tinian campaigner. The disclosure came as legal avenues to block his removal narrowed following recent court rulings that favoured the Trump administration’s immigration position.

Department of Homeland Security Assistant Secretary for Public Affairs Tricia McLaughlin told NewsNation that Algeria is the likely destination, framing the case as a broader warning to non-citizens in the United States. She said individuals in the country on visas or permanent residency should view their status as conditional, describing residence and study in the US as a “privilege, not a right.”

Khalil’s case has drawn attention from civil rights groups and free speech advocates, who argue that his detention and potential deportation raise serious concerns about political expression and due process. Supporters say the move could set a precedent for targeting lawful residents over activism, while the administration maintains that immigration law gives it wide discretion in matters of removal.