Mahmoud Khalil’s detention in Louisiana has been extended until at least next week following an initial court hearing in New York on Wednesday regarding the Trump administration’s efforts to deport the Columbia University graduate student for his involvement in campus protests against Israel. The brief hearing, focusing on jurisdictional matters, attracted hundreds of protesters to the federal courthouse in lower Manhattan to speak out against Khalil’s arrest. Khalil, a permanent U.S. resident married to an American citizen, was not present at the hearing as he had been transferred to an immigration detention center in Louisiana after being initially held in New Jersey.
Judge Jesse M. Furman ruled that Khalil should not be deported while the court reviews a legal challenge from his lawyers who are seeking his return to New York under supervision. During the hearing, the Justice Department’s attorney argued that the deportation proceedings should take place in Louisiana or New Jersey, where Khalil had been detained. Khalil’s attorney, Ramzi Kassem, claimed that Khalil was detained due to his advocacy for Palestinian rights and protected speech, without any criminal convictions.
Furman allowed Khalil’s legal team to have a phone call with him on Wednesday and Thursday, emphasizing the importance of the legal issues at hand. The judge instructed both sides to submit a joint letter by Friday outlining their proposed timeline for submitting written arguments regarding Khalil’s detention. Khalil’s supporters, including actor Susan Sarandon, gathered at the courthouse and outside, demanding his release and emphasizing the importance of free speech in the United States.
Khalil’s arrest has sparked protests across the country, with many demonstrating in support of his cause. His lawyers plan to update their lawsuit on Thursday, arguing that Khalil’s detention is a violation of free speech rights. Khalil, a descendant of Palestinian refugees, completed his Columbia master’s degree requirements in December. President Trump praised Khalil’s arrest as the beginning of a larger crackdown.
During a layover in Ireland on his way to a G7 foreign ministers’ meeting in Canada, Secretary of State Marco Rubio commented on the case of Khalil, a student facing deportation for alleged involvement in activities deemed anti-American. Rubio stressed that the issue was not about free speech but rather about individuals residing in the United States without proper authorization. Khalil, a spokesperson for Columbia protesters, has not been charged with a crime. The White House cited a section of the Immigration and Nationality Act allowing the secretary of state to deport noncitizens for foreign policy reasons. Civil rights groups and Khalil’s attorneys argue that the government is infringing on his right to speak out. The response from U.S. Jewish groups to Khalil’s detention has been mixed, with the Anti-Defamation League supporting the move as a deterrent against antisemitism, while the Jewish Council for Public Affairs criticized the administration for using concerns about antisemitism to undermine democracy.
