Jena, Louisiana:
Mahmoud Khalil, a student at Columbia University and a pro-Palestinian activist, met his newborn son for the first time on Thursday before an immigration hearing. This meeting followed his arrest by US immigration agents in March, according to his lawyer.
After a day-long hearing, Judge Jamie Commans at LaSalle Immigration Court in Jena did not make an immediate decision regarding the potential deportation of Khalil. She plans to address this matter at a later date.
Prior to the hearing, Khalil was able to meet with his wife, Dr. Noor Abdallah, and their baby, Dean, inside the detention facility. A ruling from the judge allowed this visit, enabling Khalil to hold his child for the first time.
“Mahmoud saw the baby, hugged him, and spoke to his wife, also embracing her this morning,” Amy Greer, one of his lawyers, shared with reporters after the hearing. She mentioned that the lawyers couldn’t provide specific details as they had to respect family privacy.
As a prominent figure in the student movement at Columbia, Khalil has been vocal against Israel’s actions in Gaza. He has become a notable participant in discussions around the Trump administration’s practices regarding political dissent and deportation.
The Trump administration has stated that Khalil’s presence might harm US foreign policy interests, while Khalil maintains that he is facing oppression related to his freedom of speech.
Khalil’s son was born on March 8, shortly after his arrest. The State Department has revoked his green card based on provisions in the U.S. Immigration Act that allow the Secretary of State to pursue the deportation of non-citizens whose presence is viewed as detrimental to US interests.
Originally from a Palestinian refugee camp in Syria, Khalil entered the United States on a student visa in 2022 and became a legal permanent resident last year through his marriage to a US citizen.
In related cases, federal judges have halted Khalil’s removal, arguing that the arrest of student activists may be unconstitutional. This means that Judge Commans must decide on Khalil’s deportation after these broader issues are resolved.
