On Friday, the U.S. government announced that Mahmoud Khalil, a Columbia University student and pro-Palestinian advocate, would continue to be held in detention. This decision follows a ruling from a judge stating that foreign policy cannot serve as a valid reason for his confinement. His legal team has been pushing for his immediate release, but U.S. attorneys informed the court that they would maintain his detention on unrelated charges, particularly immigration fraud, despite the judge's recent decision on other matters.
Khalil, a Palestinian who entered the U.S. legally on a student visa and later obtained permanent residency, has been in immigration detention in Louisiana since March 8. He rose to prominence as a vocal participant in pro-Palestinian protests, which gained traction following the Hamas attack on Israel and subsequent military actions in Gaza. The Trump administration has indicated intentions to deport foreign students involved in such demonstrations. U.S. District Judge Michael Farbiarz had previously intervened, blocking Khalil's deportation while assessing the constitutionality of his arrest, and he deemed the legal justification for Khalil's detention as potentially unconstitutional.
In his recent ruling, Judge Farbiarz expressed strong skepticism about the government's case against Khalil, emphasizing that detaining lawfully permanent residents for alleged errors on green card applications is uncommon. Khalil’s legal team argues that his arrest constitutes a violation of his First Amendment rights. Meanwhile, his wife, an American citizen, gave birth to their first child during his detention, further complicating the case and drawing public attention to his situation.
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