Trump barred from deporting or holding Columbia student Mahmoud Khalil, according to federal judge's decree.

Fresh Take:

NYC Victory for Palestinian Activist Mahmoud Khalil: Federal Judge Halts Deportation

The endeavor of the Trump administration to deport or keep Mahmoud Khalil, a pro-Palestinian advocate and recent grad from Columbia University, has hit a snag, thanks to a federal judge's decision in New Jersey. This ruling, handed down on June 12th, has placed a hold on the detention and deportation of Khalil, based on foreign policy grounds.

U.S. District Judge Michael Farbiarz issued a preliminary injunction, preventing the government from taking any actions against Khalil based on Secretary of State Marco Rubio's assertions that Khalil's advocacy for Palestinian rights would harm U.S. foreign policy[1][2]. The judge found these reasoning questionable and recognized that Khalil's career, reputation, and free speech rights were suffering substantial damage due to his internment[1][2].

The government might still try to remove Khalil based on other grounds, such as alleged discrepancies on his green card application. However, the clock is ticking, as they have until 9:30 a.m. on Friday to appeal the judge's injunction. If no successful appeal is filed, Khalil must be released[1][2].

Currently, Khalil is being held in a detention center in Louisiana, but his family and legal team are eagerly anticipating his release[2]. This ruling sets an important precedent, ensuring that political activism alone does not serve as a valid reason for deportation or detention[1][2].

While this is a significant step forward, Khalil's legal battles are far from over, as his legal team continues to fight for his free speech rights in a separate case[2]. In parallel proceedings in Louisiana, a judge ordered that Khalil could be deported, a decision he is still challenging[2].

Last month, experts testified that Khalil's potential deportation could lead to kidnapping, torture, or even death, due to his outspoken criticism of Israel[2]. Immigration attorney Marc Van Der Hout stated emphatically, "ICE should immediately release him. If they refuse to do that, the immigration judge should release him on bond. There is absolutely no legitimate reason for his continued unjust and cruel detention."[2]

Similar cases involving non-citizen student activists, like Mohsen Mahdawi and Yunseo Chung from Columbia University, have raised concerns about the potential infringement upon free speech rights.

This ruling in favor of Mahmoud Khalil, a pro-Palestinian activist, could have significant implications for future policies and legislation regarding war-and-conflicts, as it establishes that political activism alone should not be a reason for deportation or detention.
The ongoing case of Mahmoud Khalil, a detained pro-Palestinian activist, is not isolated, as it echoes concerns about crime-and-justice and the potential violation of general-news and politics-related freedoms, as seen in similar cases involving student activists.