Private Groups Seek to Identify and Report Student Protesters for Potential Deportation

A group known as Betar US has identified pro-Palestinian activists, including Mahmoud Khalil, for deportation, sharing information about him on social media prior to his detention by ICE on March 8, 2025. The Department of Homeland Security has clarified that ICE is not collaborating with Betar, despite the group's assertions. The use of facial recognition technology and efforts to report activists by private entities have intensified fears among international students regarding potential deportation. Concerns have grown about the blurred lines between the actions of private groups and law enforcement, as activists worry about being reported and targeted for deportation due to their political beliefs.