Student Mahmoud Khalil Charged with Failing to Disclose Work for UNRWA
New York, USA – March 25, 2025
A Columbia University student Mahmoud Khalil has been accused by U.S. authorities of failing to disclose their work for the United Nations Relief and Works Agency (UNRWA), a Palestinian refugee agency.
According to court documents, the student, who has not been named, allegedly concealed their employment with UNRWA while applying for a visa to study in the United States.
The U.S. Department of Justice has charged the student with making false statements to federal authorities, which carries a maximum penalty of five years in prison.
The UNRWA has been a point of contention between the U.S. and Palestinian authorities, with the U.S. cutting funding to the agency in 2018.
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Columbia University has declined to comment on the matter, citing federal student privacy laws.
The UNRWA has also declined to comment, stating that it does not discuss individual personnel matters.
Mahmoud Khalil is expected to appear in federal court later this week to face charges. The outcome of the case may have implications for international students and scholars working with U.N. agencies in the United States.
