US Judge Orders Release of Palestinian Rights Advocate Mahmoud Khalil Amid Deportation Controversy

June 22, NEW JERSEY— A federal judge has ordered the release of Palestinian-American activist Mahmoud Khalil, who had been held in U.S. immigration detention since March over his involvement in pro-Palestinian student protests at Columbia University. The decision marks a significant legal victory for Khalil and his supporters, who have decried his arrest as a violation of free speech.

Khalil, a legal permanent U.S. resident, was detained without criminal charges under a controversial provision of immigration law invoked by Secretary of State Marco Rubio. The rule permits the deportation of non-citizens if they are deemed to pose “potentially serious adverse foreign policy consequences” to the United States.

The ruling came Friday from a federal court in New Jersey, where Khalil’s legal team has been challenging his detention. While it remains unclear exactly when Khalil will be released, the decision does not affect his separate deportation case, which continues in immigration court.

First to Face Immigration Crackdown Over Campus Protest

Khalil, who resides in New York with his U.S. citizen wife, was the first known activist to have his legal immigration status revoked by the Trump administration for participating in student-led pro-Palestine protests. His arrest drew widespread national criticism after immigration authorities denied him permission to attend the birth of his first child in April.

Civil liberties advocates have condemned Khalil’s detention, arguing it represents a grave infringement on First Amendment rights, which protect freedom of expression and political dissent.

“This is not about immigration law—it’s about silencing a movement,” said Leila Ahmed, legal counsel with the National Immigration Justice Alliance. “The government is targeting students and scholars for expressing solidarity with Palestinians.”

Targeted Arrests Raise Constitutional Questions

The Trump administration’s aggressive approach to student protesters has come under fire for relying on immigration enforcement to punish political activity. Khalil and others have been detained by agents in plainclothes, often without prior notice or public transparency.

In addition to Khalil, several other international students involved in Palestinian rights advocacy have faced similar fates. Among them is Rumeysa Ozturk, a Turkish scholar at Tufts University who was arrested after co-authoring an op-ed in support of divesting from companies complicit in alleged Israeli human rights abuses. Another Columbia student, Mohsen Mahdawi, also won release through a federal court challenge.

Supporters allege that Khalil’s detention in a rural Louisiana facility—far from his home, family, and legal counsel—was a deliberate attempt to isolate him and shift jurisdiction to a more conservative court.

“This is a tactic we’ve seen before: remove people from their communities to make it harder for them to fight back,” said civil rights activist Mariam Ali.

Deportation Fight Continues

While the court ruling orders Khalil’s release from detention, he still faces potential deportation. His legal team is preparing to contest the government’s claim that his protest activity poses any foreign policy risk to the U.S.

The broader crackdown on pro-Palestine student activism has sparked alarm among civil liberties groups, especially as universities across the U.S. continue to see widespread demonstrations calling for a ceasefire in Gaza and divestment from Israeli-linked corporations.

“Mahmoud Khalil’s case is just the tip of the iceberg,” said Zahra Billoo of the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR). “We will continue to fight for the rights of all individuals to speak out against injustice, regardless of their immigration status.”

As of Saturday morning, Khalil’s family and supporters were awaiting confirmation of his release and planning a public welcome in New York.