Federal Judge Grants Writ for Mahmoud Khalil
A federal judge appointed by Joe Biden has agreed to Mahmoud Khalil’s request for a writ of habeas corpus, which stops the Trump administration from extending his detention, following a recent court ruling.
Nonetheless, the Trump administration has the option to contest Judge Michael E. Farbiarz’s decision.
Judge Farbiarz, serving in the U.S. District Court for New Jersey, has put a temporary hold on the preliminary injunction that will last until Friday at 9:30 a.m. This gives the government a chance to consider an appeal if they choose to pursue that route.
“The lawful permanent resident filed a habeas corpus petition and has moved to preliminarily enjoin federal officials from removing him from the United States based on the Secretary’s determination. The motion is granted,” Farbiarz stated.
Khalil, a graduate student at Columbia University, is embroiled in a significant deportation conflict with the U.S. government, largely tied to his critical views on Israel. He responded to allegations implying he represents a foreign policy risk in a legal statement that was unsealed last week.
He asserts that he never promoted pro-Hamas material, despite claims from White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt, who noted that his organized protests involved handing out “pro-Hamas propaganda fliers.”
Additionally, families of hostages from the October 7th events have filed a lawsuit, claiming that Khalil and the Columbia University Apartheid Divest (CUAD) collaborated with Hamas for spreading their agenda, pointing to public comments that hint at such coordination.
Khalil’s arrest was among the first in a growing series of incidents involving anti-Israel students and alumni on American campuses.
The Trump administration has heightened its efforts to tackle anti-Semitism on college grounds. Although plans to revoke hundreds of student visas have since been dialed back, Khalil remains in custody, missing key milestones like the birth of his first child and his graduation from Columbia.
Meanwhile, his wife, Noor Abdalla, has been vocal about wanting his immediate release, emphasizing the importance of family connection during this time.
“This is the news we’ve been waiting over three months for. Mahmoud must be released immediately and safely returned home to New York to be with me and our newborn baby, Deen,” Abdalla expressed. “True justice would mean Mahmoud was never taken away from us in the first place, that no Palestinian father, from New York to Gaza, should endure this painful separation like Mahmoud has.”
Khalil, a Muslim Palestinian “refugee” and a prominent advocate for anti-Israel sentiments among college students, played a key role during the pro-Palestine demonstrations at Columbia last year, often acting as a liaison between students and university officials.
Yet, the Trump administration argues that Khalil’s actions at the university challenge the U.S. goal of combating anti-Semitism. In April, the administration backed its stance with a two-page memorandum from U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio.
