A US judge has ruled that Mahmoud Khalil, a Columbia University graduate, can be deported, marking a significant development in his ongoing legal battle. The 30-year-old Palestinian activist, who has been detained since March 8, was informed by immigration officers that his deportation was due to his involvement in pro-Palestinian protests.
Khalil, a permanent legal resident of the United States, has not been charged with any crime. In a letter from the detention facility, he described his arrest as a “direct consequence” of his advocacy for Palestinian rights. The US government cited a Cold War-era immigration law, arguing that his presence posed a risk to American foreign policy interests.
The ruling does not mean Khalil will be deported immediately. His legal team has been given until April 23 to appeal the decision.
Who is Mahmoud Khalil?
Khalil was an outspoken voice in Columbia University’s protests against the war in Gaza last year. The Trump administration invoked a 1952 law that allows the deportation of individuals if their presence is deemed to have a detrimental effect on US foreign policy. In this case, the government argued that Khalil’s actions could negatively impact American interests.
Despite remaining silent throughout much of the proceedings, Khalil addressed the court after the ruling. “I would like to quote what you said last time that there’s nothing more important to this court than due process rights and fundamental fairness,” he said. “Clearly, what we witnessed today, neither of these principles were present today or in this whole process.”
ACLU Criticizes Ruling
The American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) has strongly criticized the ruling, calling it “pre-written.” The ACLU pointed out that the evidence against Khalil consisted only of a letter from Secretary of State Marco Rubio, which made it clear that Khalil had not committed any crime and was being targeted solely for his speech.
Rubio and other government officials justified the deportation efforts by claiming they were intended to “protect Jewish students from harassment and violence,” even if Khalil’s activities were otherwise lawful. Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem supported the judge’s ruling, saying that “advocating for violence” and “harassing Jews” should lead to the revocation of such privileges.
Legal Team Responds
Khalil’s legal team has denied the allegations of antisemitism and argued that the government has failed to provide evidence supporting their claims. Marc Van Der Hout, one of Khalil’s lawyers, condemned the decision and vowed to continue fighting for his client’s right to speak out against the actions of the US government. “Mahmoud is not against the United States, he is not antisemitic,” said Johnny Sinodis, another member of the legal team. “He has done nothing wrong.”
Khalil has also filed a federal lawsuit in New Jersey, challenging his arrest as unconstitutional. His attorneys believe that a favorable ruling in this case could prevent his deportation.
Immigration Fraud Allegations
In addition to the deportation proceedings, the Trump administration has accused Khalil of immigration fraud for allegedly failing to disclose certain information on his green card application. These include details about his work for the British embassy in Beirut and his involvement with the United Nations agency for Palestinian refugees. However, the government has not presented any new evidence to support these allegations.
White House Assistant Press Secretary Taylor Rogers reiterated the administration’s stance, emphasizing that it is “committed to the enforcement of our immigration laws” and would take action to remove individuals who pose a threat to US foreign policy.
Khalil’s legal battle is far from over, and his supporters remain confident that they will continue to fight for his rights.