Palestinian activist Mahmoud Khalil was released from federal immigration detention on Friday following a judge’s ruling.
Khalil, a legal permanent resident and a prominent negotiator at Columbia University, had been detained for over three months. His case is part of a broader crackdown on foreign students involved in campus protests.
After his release, Khalil expressed his main concern: “My priority right now is to go back to my wife and son. Justice has won, but it’s been behind for a very long time.”
As part of his release agreement, he must surrender his passport and cannot travel internationally. His movements in the U.S. will be confined to New York and Michigan, with specific permissions to visit Washington, New Jersey, and Louisiana for court appearances.
The judge described the decision to release Khalil as “very, very unusual,” especially since the government was still trying to retain custody of him.
Judge Michael Farbeers noted that the government’s actions suggest an effort to punish Khalil through immigration charges, which he deemed unconstitutional.
While the Trump administration argued that Khalil could face deportation under rarely invoked laws, he has not been charged with any crime.
Previously, Judge Falbiartz ruled that the government could not continue holding Khalil based on a decision by Secretary of State Marco Rubio. However, he was still detained on grounds that he omitted previous work experience in his green card application.
The Trump administration has filed an appeal regarding Khalil’s release.
Khalil’s situation follows the recent release of several other students who were allegedly detained for pro-Palestinian speeches, such as Columbia alumnus Mohsen Mahdawi and Tufts University student Rumeysa Ozturk.
Khalil’s arrest on March 8 marked the Trump administration’s significant action against international student visas.
Since then, the government has mandated that student visa applicants provide access to their social media accounts. Additionally, a judge recently blocked the government from registering international students at Harvard University.
