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Attorneys representing Mahmoud Khalil, a Columbia University graduate student and pro-Palestinian activist currently detained in an immigration facility in Louisiana, are advocating for the case to be transferred to New Jersey.
Khalil is under the custody of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), facing potential deportation as the former Trump administration pursues this action against him.
Recently, the Southern District of New York determined that the proceedings should take place in New Jersey, where Khalil was taken into custody when his legal team filed a petition. However, the federal government responded with a motion to maintain his detention in Louisiana and handle the matter there.
“The government’s actions seem aimed at delaying the examination of the legality of their unconstitutional actions,” stated Khalil’s attorney, Baher Azmy.
During a hearing held in Newark on the venue for the case, the presiding judge did not announce a decision but indicated he would reply promptly.
In addition, Khalil’s legal team has made motions regarding his bail status and to prevent his transfer to another location. Department of Justice representatives noted that there are no current plans to relocate him from Louisiana.
The judge indicated that he would postpone any ruling on bail until the jurisdictional questions have been resolved. Azmy emphasized, “This case exemplifies a U.S. government policy that unfairly targets Palestinian activists, including Mahmoud Khalil, for detention and deportation due to their constitutional right to dissent against U.S. foreign policy.”
When approached for a statement, the DOJ opted not to make any comments beyond their legal filings.
Outside the courthouse, demonstrators voiced their concerns, emphasizing that their primary focus is not the jurisdiction, but Khalil’s continued detention. “What’s at stake here is the fundamental right to free speech for everyone. This is a broader crackdown beyond just the Palestinian movement,” one activist proclaimed.
Another demonstrator stated, “Mahmoud Khalil is not alone; we will remain vocal. We call for his release and an end to the harassment of activists.”
“Taken away from me in the middle of the night”
Khalil, who is soon to be a father, was apprehended earlier this month when ICE agents arrived at his apartment, which is operated by the university, in Manhattan.
His wife, Noor Abdalla, recounted the distress of his arrest, saying, “My husband was taken away from me in the middle of the night. It was one of the most terrifying experiences of my life.”
After his initial detention at a New York field office, he was transported to Elizabeth, New Jersey, before being flown to Louisiana.
Khalil is a Palestinian who was born in Syria and possesses a green card, granting him legal permanent residency status. Importantly, he has not been charged with any crimes.
The federal government is utilizing a seldom-invoked clause in U.S. immigration law to justify his detention and possible removal, citing that specific activities could threaten national foreign policy interests.
ICE arrests extend to universities nationwide
Khalil gained significant attention during last year’s pro-Palestinian protests held on Columbia’s campus. Although he was not among the many arrested during these demonstrations, the White House has alleged that his actions support Hamas, a group classified as a terrorist organization by the U.S. government. However, CBS News has found no substantiating evidence that Khalil endorses Hamas.
In recent legal documents, the government claimed that Khalil failed to fully disclose his employment history on his immigration applications, which included an internship with a UN agency for Palestinian refugees, work with the British embassy’s Syrian office in Beirut, and involvement with a group advocating for Columbia University to divest from Israel.
Since Khalil’s detention, other university students and faculty members, particularly from institutions like Cornell, Georgetown, Brown, and Tufts, have also faced scrutiny and targeting by immigration officials due to their participation in pro-Palestinian demonstrations or public expressions of support. Secretary of State Marco Rubio mentioned that around 300 student visas have been revoked recently.
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