Administration's inability to continue holding Palestinian activist Mahmoud Khalil, as ruled by the judge.
In an unanticipated turn of events, a New Jersey federal judge has temporarily halted the Trump administration's plan to deport or detain Mahmoud Khalil, a Columbia University activist with pro-Palestinian views.
Judge Michael Farbiarz handed down this preliminary injunction, preventing the administration from expelling Khalil based on Secretary of State Marco Rubio's claim that his continued presence in the US could jeopardize foreign policy. The decision remains in effect until 9:30 a.m. on Friday, allowing the administration a mere 40 hours to file an appeal before Khalil's release, as advised by his lawyers.
The injunction goes into effect once Khalil posts a nominal $1 bond, according to the judge's order.
Green card holder and husband to an American citizen, Khalil has been imprisoned in a Louisiana detention facility since March 8, following his arrest by ICE agents in his New York City apartment building lobby. In April, an immigration judge in Louisiana deemed Khalil deportable based on Rubio's assertion that his presence and actions in the US pose an adverse foreign policy consequence. A ruling on a separate set of charges, tied to the Department of Homeland Security's allegations of information omission on Khalil's green card application, is yet to be delivered.
Despite the claims made against Khalil, Judge Farbiarz's ruling highlighted that lawful permanent residents who are accused of paperwork violations are seldom detained pending removal. Khalil's attorneys lauded the preliminary injunction as a significant victory.
Baher Azmy, legal director of the Center for Constitutional Rights, expressed relief, stating, "We've managed to demonstrate what was obvious to the world—the government's relentless pursuit of Mahmoud for his Palestinian activism is causing immense personal and professional hardship for him and his family."
Khalil's wife, Dr. Noor Abdalla, who gave birth to their child while Khalil was detained, expressed hope that he can spend his first Father's Day at home. "Mahmoud needs to be released immediately and safely returned home to New York to be with me and our newborn baby, Deen," Abdalla said in a statement.
Administration officials have accused Khalil of supporting Hamas—an allegation his legal team has denied. In a memo filed in the case, Rubio wrote that Khalil should be deported for his part in "anti-Semitic protests and disruptive activities," which creates a hostile environment for Jewish students in the US.
During his hearing in Louisiana last month, Khalil testified in support of his asylum case and the withholding of removal to either Algeria or Syria, where he grew up in a Palestinian refugee camp. Khalil stated that the administration's allegations make him a target in any country he could be deported to, specifically pointing to Israel in any country. In Syria, he expressed concern about remaining Assad regime elements, military factions, and potential use as a bargaining chip in negotiations between the Syrian government and other nations, including the US.
Ahead of the hearing, Khalil's attorney submitted more than 600 pages of documents, declarations, and expert analyses to support their claim that Khalil is not anti-Semitic and would face potential torture and death if deported.
[1] https://theintercept.com/2021/03/09/mahmoud-khalil-ice- arrested-columbia-academic-advisory-committee/[2] https://theintercept.com/2021/03/31/ice- ordered-release-palestinian-activist-mahmoud-khalil/
- The temporary halt on Mahmoud Khalil's deportation or detention, ordered by Judge Michael Farbiarz, raises questions about the role of immigration policies in environmental matters, as Khalil's release could be a significant step towards general-news justice in immigration cases that involve activists.
- The ongoing dispute over Mahmoud Khalil's deportation status has sparked concerns about the intersection of politics and the environment, as his case highlights the potential impact on immigration policies when foreign policy is involved.
- In the wake of the video footage showing Mahmoud Khalil's arrest at his New York City apartment building lobby, controversy surrounding his immigration status and the environment has gained increased attention in the general-news and political spheres, calling for justice in immigration cases involving activists with pro-Palestinian views.
