Rep. Burgess Owens brands arrested Palestinian student a 'terrorist' without proof

In a tense hallway exchange, Utah Rep. Burgess Owens branded Palestinian activist Mahmoud Khalil a “terrorist” several times — offering zero evidence to back up his claim.

Khalil, a Columbia University graduate student and prominent Palestinian protest organizer, was arrested on Saturday night by Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents, who informed him his student visa had been revoked. When the agents were told that Khalil was a permanent resident with a green card, he was informed that was also being revoked. He is being held at a Louisiana immigration facility.

In a confrontation captured on video by left-wing activist organization Code Pink, Owens was asked if he had issued a statement on Khalil.

“He should go home,” Owens declared as he walked through the Capitol corridors. “He’s a terrorist.”

When pressed on why he was labeling Khalil as a “terrorist,” Owens doubled down, refusing to provide any justification.

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Owens was asked why he referred to Khalil as a “terrorist,” Owens would only repeat his accusation.

“Because that’s what he is,” Owens insisted. “He’s a terrorist. He’s a terrorist. He should go home.”

Owens repeated the mantra until he escaped in an elevator, the doors closing on further questions.

When Utah Political Watch sought clarification on Owens’ comments, his office offered no evidence or explanation for his rhetoric.

In a social media post on Monday, Owens referred to Khalil as a “terrorist-supporting non-citizen.” In that same post, he condemned a federal judge who stopped Khalil’s deportation.

The Associated Press reported that a Department of Homeland Security spokesperson accused Khalil of leading “activities aligned to Hamas, a designated terrorist organization.” His arrest is related to President Donald Trump’s executive order prohibiting anti-Semitism.