Prominent Activist Mahmoud Khalil Released After Months in Detention
Mahmoud Khalil, a well-known Palestinian permanent resident and activist associated with Columbia University, has been released from immigration detention after being held for 104 days. Following his release from a Louisiana facility and return to New Jersey, Khalil declared his existence served as a message to the Trump administration, asserting that their attempts to suppress pro-Palestinian voices have ultimately failed.
“My existence is a message,” Khalil told reporters upon his return, emphasizing that “All these attempts to suppress Pro-Palestinian voices have failed now.” He was a key figure in prominent pro-Palestinian protests at Columbia University last year, and his arrest on March 8 sparked supportive demonstrations in New York and Washington DC.
Government Sought Deportation, Citing Foreign Policy
The U.S. government has been seeking Khalil’s deportation, initially arguing under a rarely used provision of the Immigration and Nationality Act (Section 212(f)) that his presence and activism were “detrimental to US foreign policy interests.” Secretary of State Marco Rubio had invoked this provision.
However, a significant development occurred when Federal Judge Michael Farbiarz in New Jersey ruled that Rubio’s initial justification for detention was likely unconstitutional and that Khalil could not be detained or deported on that basis.
Following this ruling, the Trump administration presented a second charge, alleging that Khalil failed to disclose information during his application for lawful permanent residency in 2024.
Judge Expresses Skepticism on Second Charge
During the hearing for Khalil’s release, Judge Farbiarz expressed strong skepticism regarding the government’s attempt to keep him detained on this new charge. He described the arrest and detention based on this second claim as “highly unusual” and stated it was “overwhelmingly unlikely that a lawful permanent resident would be held on the remaining charge here.” The judge suggested that there had been an “effort to use the immigration charge here to punish the petitioner” for his protest activities.
Khalil and his legal team contend that the government specifically targeted him due to his leading role in the protests and that his constitutional free speech rights were violated.
Vow to Continue Advocacy
Speaking at the airport in Newark, New Jersey, Khalil vowed to continue advocating not only for Palestinian rights but also for the rights of other immigrants who remain detained in facilities like the one where he was held. He accused the White House of attempting to “dehumanise anyone who does not agree with the administration.”
Khalil ended his public remarks by shouting “free Palestine” while holding flowers from supporters. He was joined by his wife and their baby son, who was born during his 104 days in detention. Khalil spoke emotionally about the limited visits he had with his family while jailed, expressing eagerness for unrestrained time together. He also noted he had graduated from Columbia while detained, with his wife accepting his diploma on his behalf.
Broader Context of Administration Crackdown
New York Democratic congresswoman Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez joined Khalil, stating that his release indicated the Trump administration is losing its legal battle to deport migrants in the U.S. who advocate for Palestinians. She argued the administration is aware it is “waging a losing legal battle” and “violating the law,” suggesting they use individual cases like Khalil’s as “one-off examples to intimidate everyone else.”
Khalil’s case appears within a broader context of the Trump administration’s actions targeting universities perceived as overly critical and attempting to address concerns about antisemitism, particularly linked to pro-Palestinian activism. This includes efforts to freeze university funding and deport students – actions that have often faced and been blocked by U.S. courts. The administration has also implemented enhanced screening measures for international student visas, requiring applicants to make social media public for review for indications of perceived “hostility” or “unlawful anti-Semitic harassment or violence,” linking online presence directly to visa eligibility.
The case of Tufts University student Rumeysa Ozturk, who co-authored an opinion piece critical of Israel and was released on bail in May after weeks of detention with ongoing deportation proceedings, serves as another example cited in this context.
Administration Vows Appeal
Despite the judge’s order, the Trump administration has vowed to appeal Khalil’s release as it continues its efforts to remove him from the United States. White House spokeswoman Abigail Jackson issued a statement criticizing the decision, asserting a “local federal judge in New Jersey – who lacks jurisdiction – [had no basis] to order Khalil’s release from a detention facility in Louisiana.” Jackson also accused Khalil of “fraud and misrepresentation” and “conduct detrimental to American foreign policy interests,” stating the administration expects to be “vindicated on appeal” and looks forward to his removal.
Though the government retains his physical passport, Khalil was released without electronic monitoring and received certified copies of his documents. He is barred from international travel but permitted domestic travel for court appearances, attorney visits, and notably, is allowed to travel to Washington for lobbying and legislative purposes. His fight against deportation is expected to continue in court.
As attorney Alina Das stated, “No one should fear being jailed for speaking out in this country,” reflecting the view of Khalil’s legal team and supporters that his detention was an attempt to stifle dissent. His wife, Dr. Noor Abdalla, shared her profound relief that their son would finally be reunited with the father he was separated from since birth.
