NEW YORK, NY – A US immigration judge ordered the deportation of Palestinian graduate student Mahmoud Khalil, citing concerns that his beliefs could pose a threat to national security. The ruling, made by Judge Jamee Comans, was based on evidence provided by the government, including a letter from Secretary of State Marco Rubio highlighting Khalil’s activism and its potential impact on US foreign policy.
Khalil, a permanent US resident and vocal pro-Palestinian activist, was detained under President Donald Trump’s crackdown on Gaza war protesters. Despite not being charged with any crimes, Khalil was moved to a detention center in Louisiana, away from his legal team and pregnant wife, who is a US citizen.
The Trump administration alleges that non-citizens participating in anti-Gaza war protests are anti-Semitic or “pro-Hamas,” a Palestinian militant group classified as a terrorist organization by the US, EU, and Israel. However, they failed to provide concrete evidence to support these claims against Khalil.
Khalil’s lawyer, Marc Van Der Hout, criticized the ruling as a “charade of due process,” accusing the administration of using immigration law as a tool to suppress dissent. Despite the deportation order, federal judges in New York and New Jersey have temporarily blocked Khalil’s deportation, citing concerns about violations of his First Amendment rights.
The case has sparked nationwide attention, with critics arguing that the government’s actions infringe upon free speech rights. Ramya Krishman, a senior staff attorney at Columbia’s Knight First Amendment Institute, expressed concerns about the government’s treatment of immigrants, emphasizing the need to protect individuals from unjust persecution.
The episode involving Khalil sheds light on broader issues surrounding the targeting of pro-Palestinian student activists, with reports of visa revocations for individuals linked to such protests. The situation highlights the complex intersection of immigration law, free speech, and political activism in the United States.