A federal judge has ruled that the Trump administration can continue to detain Mahmoud Khalil, who has been held at a Louisiana facility since March. This decision came on Friday after a previous ruling earlier in the week that prohibited deporting Khalil and mandated his release.
However, another judge in New Jersey said federal authorities can keep Khalil in custody due to a new immigration violation identified after his initial arrest.
Judge Michael Farbears pointed out that Khalil’s detention is illegal based on earlier charges. But, he noted, the Trump administration now claims that Khalil is being held for this new alleged violation, which the court did not rule against temporarily.
Farbears mentioned that Khalil’s legal team did not provide substantial evidence to contest the legality of the new charge and failed to make strong legal arguments regarding it.
The second accusation states that Khalil did not disclose his affiliations with organizations like the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees and the Columbia University Apartheid Divest Coalition when applying for his green card.
Bahr Azmee, Khalil’s lawyer, expressed disappointment over the ongoing delays and extended detention, labeling it an outrageous government action.
The Trump administration has accused Khalil of being involved in pro-Hamas activities at Columbia while concealing pertinent information on his green card application.
Farbears, who was appointed by former President Joe Biden, indicated that Khalil still has options for release, including the possibility of filing for bail with an immigration judge handling his case.
The judge also clarified that the initial decision by Secretary of State Marco Rubio to revoke Khalil’s legal status stemmed from his participation in anti-Israel protests rather than the reasons for his current detention.
According to the Trump administration, Khalil’s activities at the Ivy League institution associated him with the Hamas terrorist group.
