A federal judge has ordered the release of Palestinian activist Mahmoud Khalil, who has been held by immigration authorities since March due to his participation in protests advocating for Palestinian rights at Columbia University.
The ruling on Friday came from a federal court in New Jersey, where Khalil’s legal team is actively contesting his detention, which is separate from ongoing legal efforts to prevent his deportation.
Judge Michael Farbiarz later dismissed a government request to pause his ruling and confirmed that Khalil must be released following the finalization of his release terms with a magistrate court.
The American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU), which has been advocating for Khalil, announced that he will be returning to New York to be reunited with his family.
“This is a joyous day for Mahmoud, for his family, and for everyone’s First Amendment rights,” stated ACLU lawyer Noor Zafar, referencing the constitutional guarantee of free speech.
Zafar emphasized the significance of the ruling, remarking, “Since he was arrested in early March, the government has acted at every turn to punish Mahmoud for expressing his political beliefs about Palestine. But today’s ruling underscores a vital First Amendment principle: The government cannot abuse immigration law to punish speech it disfavors.”
Khalil was notably the first recognized activist to face detention and have his legal immigration status revoked by President Donald Trump’s administration due to his role in student protests.
The case has drawn substantial national attention, particularly after authorities denied Khalil the opportunity to witness the birth of his first child in April.
“After more than three months we can finally breathe a sigh of relief and know that Mahmoud is on his way home to me and Deen, who never should have been separated from his father,” expressed Noor Abdalla, Khalil’s wife.
It is important to note that Khalil has not been charged with any crime. Instead, the Trump administration utilized a rarely invoked provision of immigration law that allows for the removal of noncitizens if they are believed to pose “potentially serious adverse foreign policy consequences” for the United States.
Advocates contend that this crackdown on Khalil and others similarly situated represents a violation of First Amendment rights.
Criticism of the Trump administration has also emerged regarding the tactics used to detain activists, including sending immigration officials in plainclothes to apprehend them rather than permitting them to remain free while contesting their deportation.
Other students from the Trump administration’s immigration actions have also been ordered to be released by federal courts, showcasing a wider issue at play.
Turkish Tufts University scholar Rumeysa Ozturk was detained for co-authoring an op-ed urging her university to divest from companies involved in alleged abuses against Palestinians.
Khalil, who lived in New York with his wife, a US citizen, was held in rural Louisiana, a move his supporters claim was designed to distance him from his family and legal counsel while transferring him to a more conservative area.
Al Jazeera’s Kimberly Halkett reported that Khalil’s release represents a significant setback for the Trump administration, which had insisted on his continued detention for his immigration case.
Khalil’s case has now become emblematic for those advocating for free speech rights in the United States, as he is recognized as a ‘poster child’ for their cause.
image source from：aljazeera
