The Board of Immigration Appeals has turned down Mahmoud Khalil’s recent request to dismiss his deportation case, which many believe brings him closer to potential rearrest and deportation. Khalil, a former Columbia University graduate student and Palestinian activist, received notice of the final removal order from his attorney on Thursday.
The board’s decision remains unpublished, and the details haven’t yet gone back to the U.S. Department of Justice.
Khalil voiced his lack of surprise at the outcome, referring to it as “biased and politically motivated.” His legal team argues that he can’t be detained or deported due to a separate case currently pending in federal court.
“My only crime was speaking out against the genocide in Palestine,” Khalil stated. He added that the current administration has manipulated the immigration system to retaliate against him for his activism.
The Immigration Appeals Board’s ruling illustrates the complex nature of the immigration court system, which is influenced by the Justice Department and reflects the priorities of the Trump administration. Khalil, who is 31 and a legal permanent resident, was notably the first person arrested in the federal government’s effort to target noncitizens who publicly criticize Israel’s actions in Gaza.
The government has alleged that Khalil’s role in pro-Palestinian protests is linked to Hamas. However, they have not provided evidence of any connections to terrorist organizations, and Khalil rejects the claims of anti-Semitism outright.
Since his arrest in March, Khalil has missed significant personal milestones, including the birth of his first child, and endured 104 days in an immigration detention center before a federal judge in New Jersey ordered his release.
This year has been difficult for him, as he suffered a setback when a U.S. appellate court determined that the New Jersey judge had overstepped his authority in granting his release. The court ruled 2-1 that Khalil’s case must be fully processed through immigration channels before any federal court challenges can be made.
Khalil’s lawyers are now seeking for the appeals board to revisit its earlier decision.
Complications arose earlier this month when a judge from the appellate panel faced calls to resign over their former role in the Justice Department concerning investigations of student protests.
Born in Syria to a Palestinian family and holding Algerian citizenship through a distant relative, Khalil has expressed deep concerns about what might happen to him if he is deported, fearing potential targeting or even assassination.
