Mahmoud Khalil, activist from Columbia, has been freed from ICE detention in Louisiana
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Activist Mahmoud Khalil, a green card holder and former Columbia University student, walked out of an Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) detention center in Louisiana on a Friday night, following a federal judge's order for his release during his immigration proceedings.
Khalil, who spent grueling months in custody as the Trump administration tried to deport him for foreign policy reasons, addressed reporters after leaving the facility, en route to New York.
"Trump and his administration, they chose the wrong person for this," Khalil declared.
During a hearing earlier before U.S. District Judge Michael Farbiarz, Khalil's attorneys requested his release or transfer to New Jersey. The judge granted their appeal, determining that Khalil wasn't a danger to the community, a flight risk, and that his detention was abnormal.
Farbiarz rejected the government's plea to delay his decision. In his written order, Farbiarz stated, "the Petitioner shall be released from immigration custody today." Khalil's bail conditions restricted his travel to New Jersey, New York, Michigan, Washington D.C., and Louisiana, where he must attend all of his immigration hearings.
Khalil was detained by immigration agents in March. His wife, Noor Abdalla, was eight months pregnant with their first child when he was taken into custody, and she gave birth to a son in April. Immigration officials denied Khalil's request for a temporary release to attend the birth, but a judge eventually permitted a brief visit last month.
"Now I can actually hug him and Noor, my wife, without looking at the clock," Khalil said when asked about his plans upon returning home.
"My husband was taken away from me in the middle of the night. It was one of the most terrifying times of my life. I don't think I've ever experienced anything scarier than that," Abdalla shared in a March interview with "our Sunday Morning."
In a statement released by the ACLU, which represents Khalil, Abdalla said, "we can finally breathe a sigh of relief and know that Mahmoud is on his way home to me and Deen, who never should have been separated from his father."
Prior to his release, White House spokeswoman Abigail Jackson said the administration would appeal.
"[T]here is no basis for a local federal judge in New Jersey - who lacks jurisdiction - to order Khalil's release from a detention facility in Louisiana," Jackson stated. "We expect to be vindicated on appeal, and look forward to removing Khalil from the United States."
Tricia McLaughlin, a spokeswoman for the Department of Homeland Security, said the order was an example of judicial branch members undermining national security.
"The Trump Administration acted well within its statutory and constitutional authority to detain Khalil, as it does with any alien who advocates for violence, glorifies and supports terrorists, harasses Jews, and damages property," McLaughlin said. "An immigration judge has already vindicated this position. We expect a higher court to do the same."
Khalil was initially detained under a determination by Secretary of State Marco Rubio that his presence posed threats to foreign policy. However, Judge Farbiarz ruled last week that Khalil could not be held based solely on Rubio's determination. The Department of Homeland Security continued Khalil's detention based on allegations that he omitted details from his green card application. Farbiarz found these allegations insufficient to justify continued detention.
"It's overwhelmingly unlikely that a lawful permanent resident would be held on the remaining charge here," Farbiarz stated, adding that "there is an effort to use the immigration charge here to punish the petitioner" for his anti-Israel speech. Khalil was among the leaders of students protesting Israel's war in Gaza in 2024, while he was a Columbia University student.
"What all of that evidence adds up to is a lack of violence, a lack of property destruction, a lack of anything that would be characterized as inciting violence," Farbiarz added, explaining that government attorneys had been given ample opportunities to address the lack of evidence, but provided none.
During the hearing, Khalil's attorneys argued that a Louisiana immigration judge denied a bond hearing for Khalil and rejected his asylum request, conflicting with Farbiarz’s order last week.
"There has been a thick record developed here," Farbiarz stated, adding that he will not order electronic monitoring for Khalil.
Farbiarz ruled that Khalil's travel would be limited between New York and Michigan to visit family, along with New Jersey and Louisiana for court hearings and attorney visits.
Farbiarz ordered Khalil to surrender his passport but allowed him to reclaim his green card to facilitate his travel to New York. He is prohibited from traveling internationally. Khalil was also ordered to update his current address with DHS within 48 hours of his release.
Jesse Zanger contributed to this report.
- Columbia University
- U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE)
Jacob Rosen (Jake Rosen) is a reporter covering the Department of Justice. He previously covered President Trump's 2024 campaign and served as an associate producer for "Face the Nation with Margaret Brennan." Rosen has produced several of our News podcasts, including "The Takeout," "The Debrief," and "Agent of Betrayal: The Double Life of Robert Hanssen."
Enrichment Insights:- Mahmoud Khalil's case brought foreign policy concerns due to his advocacy for Palestinian rights.- Khalil was held in a remote ICE facility in Jena, Louisiana, causing irreparable harm to his family.- The government used allegations related to his green card application to keep Khalil detained, which were later abandoned in immigration court.- Khalil's release marks a significant legal victory against government attempts to silence activism through immigration enforcement.
- The general news continues to cover the ongoing political issues, with the release of activist Mahmoud Khalil from an ICE detention center serving as a significant legal victory against government attempts to silence activism through immigration enforcement.
- The news landscape is dominated by political debates and lawsuits, as the case of Mahmoud Khalil, a former Columbia University student, sheds light on the use of immigration proceedings for foreign policy reasons, raising questions about the working of ICE and the limits of judicial authority in such matters.
