Federal Judge Orders Release of Columbia University Activist

A federal judge in New Jersey has directed that Mahmoud Khalil, a Columbia University alumnus and activist, be released from his detention in Louisiana. Judge Michael Fabiartz granted a request from Khalil’s lawyer, emphasizing that his detention was “very unusual.” The judge noted that while immigration proceedings are ongoing, Khalil does not present a threat or risk of fleeing.

The Trump administration had sought to keep Khalil detained, but the judge declined their request. Reports suggest that the Department of Justice may appeal the decision.

Khalil, 30, who was born in Syria, became a green card holder in March 2024. He has faced scrutiny, as authorities claimed he has ties to Hamas, a designated terrorist organization, leading to the cancellation of his green card.

A judge appointed by Barack Obama temporarily halted Khalil’s deportation earlier this year. In June, Fabiartz determined that the justification for his deportation related to foreign policy concerns was insufficient. However, he cautioned that this ruling doesn’t prevent the administration from pursuing other grounds for deportation.

The administration also contends that Khalil has not fully disclosed details pertinent to his green card application.

Before arriving in the U.S. from Algeria in 2022, Khalil worked for the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees and was involved with the British embassy in Beirut, Lebanon. At Columbia, he became notably active in protests and led a group focused on apartheid, a label that has attracted criticism.