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A Columbia University student’s arrest by immigration authorities has sparked a legal battle and protests, marking a significant moment in the ongoing debate over pro-Palestinian activism on college campuses during the Trump administration.
U.S. District Judge Jesse Furman will preside over a hearing in Manhattan federal court, scheduled for 11:30 a.m. EDT, to address the case of Mahmoud Khalil, a 29-year-old student activist. The hearing is expected to focus primarily on procedural matters, according to a joint filing by attorneys from both sides.
Khalil, who has Palestinian roots, entered the United States in 2022 on a student visa and obtained permanent residency status last year. Department of Homeland Security agents apprehended him Saturday evening near his university housing in Manhattan. Judge Furman has since issued a temporary block on Khalil’s deportation.
While President Trump has used social media to accuse Khalil of Hamas support, his administration has not filed criminal charges or presented evidence supporting these allegations. Judge Furman, who was appointed during the Obama administration, possesses the authority to order Khalil’s release if constitutional violations are found, though separate immigration proceedings could continue regardless.
Mahmoud Khalil’s group wants to eradicate Western Civilization & foment unrest in the United States. President Trump & @SecRubio are well within their legal rights to deport this radical. We are either going to stand up or become Europe. I’m 100% behind the President. pic.twitter.com/0shUR407pr
— Scott Jennings (@ScottJenningsKY) March 11, 2025
This case may establish important precedents regarding the distinction between constitutionally protected speech and alleged support for designated terrorist organizations in immigration court proceedings.
The defense team argues that Khalil was targeted for his opposition to Israel’s military response in Gaza following Hamas’s October 2023 attack, which Israeli sources report killed 1,200 people. The subsequent Israeli campaign has resulted in over 48,000 Palestinian deaths, according to Gaza health authorities.
Khalil’s attorneys maintain that his arrest violates First Amendment protections and are pushing for his immediate release. The Trump administration continues to allege Hamas support without providing evidence.
Immigration law permits the deportation of green card holders under specific circumstances, including criminal convictions, terrorist group support, or when their presence is deemed contrary to U.S. foreign policy or national security interests.
https://twitter.com/persianjewess/status/189913172658613494
The final determination regarding Khalil’s deportation would fall under an immigration judge’s jurisdiction, not Judge Furman’s. The appeals process could extend the case for years.
Trump’s campaign promise to deport foreign students involved in pro-Palestinian demonstrations has led to widespread protests in New York City, resulting in multiple arrests. Democratic lawmakers have condemned Khalil’s detention as politically motivated.
The defense team has requested Khalil’s return to New York from Louisiana, where he is currently detained, citing limited access to their client. Sources close to the situation confirm he has maintained contact with his wife, who is in her eighth month of pregnancy.
“But here I am, 40 years after my parents immigrated here, and just weeks before I’m due to give birth to our first child, and I feel more unsafe and unstable than I have in my entire life,” Khalil’s wife said in a statement through his lawyers. She requested anonymity for safety reasons, noting her parents’ migration from Syria to the U.S. Midwest in search of security and stability.
