The judge decided that Columbia activist Mahmoud Khalil could be deported from us
An immigration judge decided on Friday that Columbia University activist Mahmoud Khalil could be deported from the US
This amazing step may have an impact on other international students that have been targeted by administration.
The judge has given Khalil’s lawyers, the deadline of April 23 to submit an application for assistance to stop his deportation. The judge said that if they failed to make a deadline when he would submit an order to remove to Syria or Algeria.
Mahmoud Khalil spoke to media members about the rebellion for the rafah camp at Columbia University during the ongoing conflict between Israel and the Palestinian Islamic group Hamas in Gaza, in New York, June 1, 2024.
Jeenah Moon/Reuters, File
Judge Jamee Comans found Khalil could be released under the statement of State Secretary Marco Rubio that his sustainable presence and actions in the country were “the consequences of adverse foreign policy.”
The trial came after the judge gave the government deadly this week to provide evidence to support some of the accusations made to Khalil as an excuse to deport him from the US, including that he misinterpreted information about the green card application.
While a student at Columbia University, Khalil is part of the leadership group that protested the war in Gaza. Khalil took part in the negotiations with the school administrator who demanded the institution to decide on relations with Israel and release from Israeli companies. Khalil completed a postgraduate study in Columbia in December and will graduate in spring.
Khalil – Green card holder and permanent laws of law who were married to American citizens who were nine months pregnant – were arrested with immigration and customs enforcement in their Columbia Housing in March.
The government on Thursday submitted evidence of the two -page memo signed by Rubio who said that he found the presence of Khalil in the US “will endanger the interests of an interesting US foreign policy.”
The lawyer for Khalil argues in a press conference on Thursday that the government – who included letters and other documents is evidence of Wednesday – does not present evidence that the presence of Khalil in the US is a consequence of adverse foreign policy.
State Secretary Marco Rubio attended a cabinet meeting at the White House, April 10, 2025.
Nathan Howard/Reuters
The government is of the opinion that under the 1952 federal law which is not clearly called the Immigration and National Law, that they believe that migrants can be deported “If the State Secretary has a reasonable basis to believe that the presence or alien activities in the United States will have the potential to harm the consequences of foreign policy that is detrimental to the United States.”
The lawyer for Khalil argues that the determination is a judge to make, after the government presents evidence.
The memo signed by Rubio also made the case that other people, whose names were deleted, must be deported based on the same law.
Rubio wrote that Khalil had to be deported because of his alleged role in “antisemite protests and disturbing activities, which pushed hostile environments for Jewish students in the United States.”
Marc Van Der Hout, one of Khalil’s lawyers, sharply criticized the memo during the Zoom press conference on Thursday.
Rubio “talked about the first amendment activity in the United States and its influence on people in the US ‘determination’ had absolutely nothing to do with foreign policy,” said Van Der Hout.
Lawyer Khalil said the government did not provide evidence of the alleged information that Khalil interpreted in the Green Card application.
