Palestinian Rights Activist Mahmoud Khalil Reunites with Family After Prolonged ICE Detention
Mahmoud Khalil, a prominent Palestinian rights activist, Columbia University graduate, and legal permanent resident (green card holder) of the United States, has been released from federal immigration custody after being detained for 104 days. His release marks a significant moment following accusations that his detention was politically motivated due to his vocal opposition to Israel’s war on Gaza. Khalil was reunited with his wife and infant son on Saturday at Newark Liberty International Airport in New Jersey, met by a crowd of cheering supporters, his legal team, and U.S. Representative Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez.
Khalil, 30, was seized by plainclothes Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents in the lobby of his university residence in early March, in front of his wife, Dr. Noor Abdalla, who was then eight months pregnant. He was subsequently held at an ICE facility in Jena, Louisiana, becoming the last of several high-profile students targeted by the Trump administration for pro-Palestinian activism to remain in detention.
Held without criminal charge, Khalil missed crucial family milestones, including the birth of his son, Deen, as well as Mother’s Day, Father’s Day, and his graduation from Columbia. He was permitted only one brief visit with his wife and son prior to his release.
Federal Judge Orders Immediate Release
Khalil’s release came on Friday evening after a federal judge, Michael Farbiarz of Newark, New Jersey, ordered his immediate release on bail. Judge Farbiarz ruled that the government had failed to demonstrate that Khalil posed a flight risk or a danger to the public, stating unequivocally, “He is not a danger to the community. Period, full stop.” The judge further commented on the highly unusual nature of the government’s argument for detention based on the factual record presented.
Critically, the judge also found that detaining someone over a civil immigration matter as a form of punishment was unconstitutional. This ruling directly challenged the administration’s apparent strategy. The Trump administration had sought to justify Khalil’s detention by invoking a rarely used law, with Secretary of State Marco Rubio claiming Khalil’s presence undermined U.S. foreign policy interests aimed at preventing antisemitism. However, both Khalil and his legal team vehemently denied any antisemitic activity, and multiple Jewish students and faculty members even submitted court documents supporting Khalil.
Defiant Return and Commitment to Advocacy
Emerging from security at Newark airport pushing his infant son in a stroller, Khalil smiled broadly, raising his right fist while draped in a Palestinian keffiyeh. His message upon release was defiant.
“If they threaten me with detention, even if they would kill me, I would still speak up for Palestine,” Khalil stated at a brief press conference. He emphasized that advocating for Palestinian rights is “speech that should actually be celebrated rather than punished,” and expressed his intention to continue his work. Speaking earlier outside the Jena facility, he criticized the administration, saying, “Trump and his administration, they chose the wrong person for this. That doesn’t mean there is a right person for this. There is no right person who should be detained for actually protesting a genocide.” He added, “No one is illegal – no human is illegal.“
Political Reactions and Ongoing Fight
Representative Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, who accompanied Khalil, strongly condemned his detention. She called it “illegal” and politically motivated “persecution based on political speech,” asserting it was a violation of Khalil’s and all Americans’ First Amendment rights. She accused the Trump administration of baselessly targeting Khalil because they disagreed with his political views and engaged in a “losing legal battle.”
Despite the judge’s clear order, the Trump administration quickly filed a notice of appeal. A spokesperson for Homeland Security reportedly criticized the judicial decision, calling it “yet another example of how out-of-control members of the judicial branch are undermining national security.”
As a condition of his conditional release, Khalil was ordered to surrender his passport and green card to ICE officials and faces significant travel restrictions, limited primarily to New York, Louisiana, Michigan, and New Jersey for specific purposes like court appearances and visiting family.
Broader Context of Crackdown
Khalil’s case has drawn widespread condemnation and is seen as part of a broader crackdown by the Trump administration on free speech, pro-Palestinian activism, and immigrants. His detention was the first in a series targeting international students speaking out about the conflict in Gaza, university investments, and U.S. policy. The administration had controversially linked such activism to antisemitism, a claim challenged by Khalil’s own history as a lead negotiator between Jewish and pro-Palestinian groups at Columbia, where he stated the liberation of both peoples is intertwined.
Khalil’s release is considered the latest setback for the administration’s pledge to deport pro-Palestinian international students. While three other students previously detained on similar grounds have been released, others have left the country or are fighting their cases while in hiding.
His release, while celebrated, underscores the ongoing challenges faced by activists and immigrants under current policies. A rally is planned for Sunday at the Cathedral of St John the Divine in New York to celebrate Khalil’s return and protest the continued detention of thousands of immigrants in the U.S., as well as Palestinians held without trial in Israel. Miriam Osman of the Palestinian Youth Movement stated, “Mahmoud’s release reignites our determination to continue fighting until all our prisoners are released… until we see the end of the genocide… and until we enforce an arms embargo on the Israel.“
While Khalil is now out of detention, legal challenges regarding his case, including the administration’s appeal and potential deportation proceedings based on alleged omissions in his green card application, are expected to continue.
References
- www.theguardian.com
- <a href="https://www.democracynow.org/2025/6/21/watchmahmoudkhalilreuniteswith_family”>www.democracynow.org
- www.inkl.com
- www.theguardian.com
- www.aclu.org
