A Louisiana immigration judge ruled on April 12 that Mahmoud Khalil, a Columbia University graduate student and prominent pro-Palestinian activist, can be deported from the United States as a national security risk.
Khalil, 30, who served as a spokesperson during Columbia University’s pro-Palestinian demonstrations last spring, was detained by federal immigration agents on March 8 in his university-owned apartment building.
Immigration Judge Jamee E. Comans based her decision on the government’s argument that Khalil’s presence posed “potentially serious foreign policy consequences” for the United States. The ruling relies on the Immigration and Nationality Act of 1952, which permits deportation if the Secretary of State deems an alien’s presence potentially harmful to U.S. foreign policy interests.
“Mahmoud was subject to a charade of due process, a flagrant violation of his right to a fair hearing, and a weaponization of immigration law to suppress dissent,” Khalil’s legal team stated following the ruling.
The case has drawn significant attention, particularly given Khalil’s status as a legal U.S. resident with a green card. His wife, a U.S. citizen, is nine months pregnant.
The judge has given Khalil’s attorneys until April 23 to file applications for relief to prevent his deportation. If they miss this deadline, the judge will issue a removal order to either Syria or Algeria.
Civil rights organizations, including the American Civil Liberties Union, have voiced strong opposition to the proceedings. A separate federal case challenging the constitutionality of his arrest and detention is pending in New Jersey.
Khalil’s legal team has announced plans to appeal the deportation ruling, arguing that the action violates his First Amendment rights and targets protected free speech.