Pro-Palestinian activist and former Columbia student Mahmoud Khalil released from federal detention

Mahmoud Khalil, a former Columbia University student and a prominent figure in nationwide pro-Palestinian campus protests, was released on Friday from a federal detention center in Louisiana. 

His release follows a ruling by District Judge Michael Farbiarz, ending his nearly three-month detention.

Khalil, a legal U.S. permanent resident married to an American citizen and father to a U.S.-born son, had been held since March amid attempts by federal authorities to deport him.

“This never should have taken three months,” Khalil said outside the immigration detention facility in Jena, Louisiana, wearing a traditional Palestinian keffiyeh. “Trump and his administration chose the wrong person for this. There’s no right person to detain for protesting a genocide.”

The U.S. Department of Homeland Security criticized the judge’s decision, calling it an example of the judiciary “undermining national security.”

Under his release conditions, Khalil is barred from leaving the United States except for voluntary departure and must comply with travel restrictions within the country.

His wife, Noor Abdalla, a dentist from Michigan, expressed relief at the ruling: “Our family can finally breathe a sigh of relief knowing Mahmoud is on his way home.” She added that while they welcomed the decision, it “does not undo the injustices inflicted on our family and others being silenced for opposing Israel’s ongoing genocide against Palestinians.” Abdalla gave birth to their first child during Khalil’s detention.

Symbol of Student Crackdown

Khalil’s case has become emblematic of what critics describe as a crackdown on pro-Palestinian student activism in the United States. Arrested by Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) on March 8, Khalil was transferred from New York to a remote detention center nearly 2,000 kilometers (1,242 miles) away.

At the time of his arrest, he was a graduate student at Columbia University and one of the most recognizable voices in protests against Israel’s military campaign in Gaza. His detention was widely viewed as part of a broader effort by the Trump administration to link pro-Palestinian advocacy with national security concerns under the guise of combating antisemitism.

Secretary of State Marco Rubio has cited a Cold War-era law that permits the removal of non-citizens deemed contrary to U.S. foreign policy interests. Rubio argued that constitutional free speech protections do not apply to non-citizens and that such decisions fall solely under his authority, with no judicial oversight.

In recent months, hundreds of foreign students have had their visas revoked, with many claiming they were targeted for writing op-eds, organizing protests, or having minor legal infractions.

Judge Farbiarz, however, ruled that the government could not justify Khalil’s detention or deportation solely on the basis of Rubio’s assertions that Khalil posed a national security threat.

Authorities also alleged Khalil had inaccuracies in his permanent residency application, which were cited as additional grounds for his detention.

Amol Sinha, executive director of the ACLU of New Jersey — one of the organizations representing Khalil — welcomed the court’s decision.

“This ruling is an important step in affirming Mr. Khalil’s rights,” Sinha said. “He is being unlawfully targeted by the federal government for his advocacy in support of Palestinian human rights.”