Judge Rules for Activist Detained Due to Political Views

NEWARK, N.J. — A New Jersey federal judge ruled Tuesday that Mahmoud Khalil, a Columbia University graduate student and pro-Palestinian activist, can pursue his case in federal court. Khalil argues that he was detained and targeted for deportation because of his political views.

Khalil, a Syrian-born green card holder, has been in Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) custody in Louisiana since his arrest at his New York apartment on March 8. The ruling by Judge Michael Farbiarz is seen as an important step towards establishing Khalil’s freedom from what his legal team describes as unlawful detention.

In a detailed 108-page ruling, Farbiarz emphasized that immigration courts are not equipped to address constitutional claims related to freedom of speech. The judge stated that he would keep the case in his jurisdiction, rejecting arguments from the Trump administration that the Immigration and Nationality Act barred federal court review.

“If there needs to be fact-finding here, it may potentially involve sensitive evidence,” Farbiarz noted, explaining that immigration courts lack the capacity for such inquiries. This ruling is significant as it could impact similar cases involving students and activists facing deportation for their political beliefs.

Khalil’s legal team claims he was detained in retaliation for his participation in pro-Palestinian protests on campus, following statements from Secretary of State Marco Rubio which deemed Khalil a national security threat due to his beliefs. Khalil’s wife, Noor Abdalla, expressed her relief at the court’s ruling, stating, “This is an important step towards securing Mahmoud’s freedom. But there is still more work to be done.”

Khalil’s lawyers are also seeking his release on bail, emphasizing the urgency as Abdalla recently gave birth to their first child. The judge has yet to rule on this request.

Attorney Amy Greer called the decision a victory for Khalil’s rights and a challenge to what she termed unconstitutional actions taken against him. “Today, we moved one step closer to vindicating Mr. Khalil’s rights,” Greer said.

In connection to these events, a similar case involves Mohsen Mahdawi, a Palestinian green card holder, who was recently ordered released from custody by a federal judge in Vermont after being detained without charges.

The consequences of these judicial rulings may extend beyond Khalil and Mahdawi, as the Trump administration uses foreign policy-related justifications to seek deportations of other students and activists under similar circumstances.