By
PulseNext Staff | June 20, 2025
NEW YORK – Columbia University graduate and Palestinian activist
Mahmoud Khalil walked free on Friday after 104 days in immigration detention,
vowing to fight deportation efforts by the Trump administration that he
denounced as political retaliation for his pro-Palestinian protests.
A
federal judge in New Jersey ordered Khalil's release, rejecting government
claims that the 30-year-old legal permanent resident posed a flight risk or
threat to national security. The ruling capped a dramatic legal battle that
drew national attention to free speech and immigration enforcement.
"Trump
administration chose the wrong person to target," Khalil told reporters
outside the Louisiana detention center where he’d been held since March 8.
"There’s no right person who should be detained for protesting
genocide."
Detention During Family Milestones
Khalil’s
release came just days after he missed one of life’s pivotal moments: the birth
of his son, Deen. His wife, Dr. Noor Abdalla, delivered their child while
Khalil remained behind bars.
"The
only time I spent [with] my son was a government-imposed one-hour visit,"
Khalil said, his voice breaking. "Now I can finally hug him and Noor
without watching the clock."
Abdalla,
who accepted Khalil’s Columbia diploma on his behalf during his detention,
released a statement through the ACLU: "After more than three months, we
can finally breathe a sigh of relief. Deen never should have been separated
from his father."
The Government’s Case
The
Trump administration sought Khalil’s deportation under two contentious
arguments:
1. Secretary of State
Marco Rubio invoked a rare clause of the Immigration and Nationality Act,
claiming Khalil’s activism posed "serious adverse foreign policy
consequences" for opposing Israel’s actions in Gaza.
2. Federal prosecutors
later alleged Khalil failed to disclose information in his 2024 green card
application – a charge his attorneys called a pretextual fallback.
Judge
Michael Farbiarz dismantled both arguments during Friday’s hearing. He ruled
Rubio’s justification "probably unconstitutional" and deemed the
second charge "highly unusual" for a lawful permanent resident.
"It’s
overwhelmingly unlikely a resident would be held on such charges,"
Farbiarz stated, adding there appeared to be an "effort to punish the
petitioner for his protests."
Free Speech Firestorm
Khalil
emerged as a leading voice during Columbia’s 2024 pro-Palestinian protests,
organizing campus demonstrations against civilian casualties in Gaza. His
arrest in March sparked solidarity rallies in New York and Washington D.C.
White
House spokeswoman Abigail Jackson maintained Khalil engaged in "fraud and
conduct detrimental to American foreign policy," insisting the
administration would prevail on appeal.
But
Khalil’s legal team framed the case as a free speech litmus test. "No one
should fear being jailed for speaking out in this country," argued Alina
Das of NYU’s Immigrant Rights Clinic, who secured his release.
Though
freed under strict conditions – including surrendered passport and domestic
travel restrictions – Khalil faces ongoing deportation proceedings. He’s
permitted to travel to New York, Michigan, and Washington D.C. for
"lobbying and legislative purposes," signaling plans to mobilize
support.
The
case has ignited debate over two intersecting policies:
·
The administration’s crackdown on student activism
·
Expanded use of immigration charges against critics
As
Khalil boarded a flight to reunite with his family, he left journalists with a
defiant message: "They thought detention would silence me. It only
amplified our cause."
PulseNext
will continue tracking this developing story.
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