Activist Released from ICE Detention After Months-Long Fight

Mahmoud Khalil has returned to New Jersey after being released from U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement detention in Louisiana. The Columbia University graduate and activist arrived at Newark Liberty International Airport on Saturday following months in ICE custody. The Trump administration had been attempting to deport him.

A crowd of friends, including his wife, his baby in a stroller, and New York Representative Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, greeted Khalil upon his arrival. Khalil expressed gratitude for the support he received. He had been held in ICE custody for over 100 days.

During a press conference, Khalil stated that his release sent a message, highlighting the failure of attempts to suppress pro-Palestine voices. He viewed his very existence as a message, along with the Palestinian existence, to the administration. Khalil accused the Trump administration of dehumanizing him and immigrants in general.

Ocasio-Cortez asserted that Khalil's detainment was a violation of his First Amendment rights. Baher Azmy, from the Center for Constitutional Rights, called the release a significant victory. Khalil declared his continued commitment to advocating for Palestine, even in the face of threats. He expressed his desire to resume his work advocating for Palestinian rights.

The Trump administration sought Khalil's deportation due to his involvement in Columbia campus protests against Israel. He had not been charged with any crimes, but the administration cited activities it deemed aligned with Hamas as the reason for his removal. Khalil stated that the administration had chosen the wrong person.

U.S. District Judge Michael Fabiarz ruled that Khalil posed no threat or flight risk. The judge deemed Khalil's detention "highly unusual" and the government's actions an attempt to punish him for his anti-Israel speech. The government had argued that Khalil's presence compromised U.S. foreign policy interests. While rejecting the foreign policy grounds for continued detention, the judge left open the possibility of deportation based on other issues, such as his green card application. Khalil was not required to undergo electronic monitoring.

Khalil was arrested by federal immigration agents in his Manhattan apartment on March 8, sparking protests and discussions about free speech. He was then transferred to a detention center in Louisiana, far from his legal team and pregnant wife. The government denied his request to be present for the birth of his son.

Khalil's arrest was the first of several similar incidents. Mohsen Mahdawi, another Columbia activist, was also arrested and detained. He was released after a judge ruled that he was likely being punished for protected speech. Rumeysa Ozturk, a Tufts University graduate student, was also released after being detained for over a month. Her attorneys said she was taken into custody over an op-ed she wrote.