A federal judge in New York has transferred the immigration case of Columbia graduate and Palestinian activist Mahmoud Khalil to New Jersey, rejecting the Trump administration’s attempt to dismiss his legal challenge.
Khalil, a permanent US resident, was arrested by ICE agents in New York on March 8. He was initially held in New Jersey before being moved to Louisiana, where he remains in detention. The Trump administration seeks his deportation under a rarely used immigration law, citing potential foreign policy concerns.
Judge Jesse Furman ruled that New Jersey is the proper jurisdiction since Khalil was detained there when his lawyers filed their petition. He kept in place an earlier order preventing Khalil’s deportation while the case continues.
Khalil’s legal team argues his detention is unlawful retaliation for his pro-Palestinian activism and violates his constitutional rights. His wife, an American citizen, is due to give birth next month, and his lawyers are pushing for his release on bail.
The administration claims Khalil’s activities align with Hamas and justify his removal. Homeland Security officials say the secretary of state has the authority to deport noncitizens if their presence could harm U.S. foreign policy interests. Though critics argue that their is no legitimate standing for the administration’s claims.
Khalil, in a statement from detention, called himself a “political prisoner” targeted for his beliefs. His case has become a test of the administration’s broader crackdown on activists linked to campus protests over Gaza.
The New Jersey Digest is a new jersey magazine that has chronicled daily life in the Garden State for over 10 years.