A federal judge ordered the liberation of the former student of Columbia University on Friday, Mahmoud Khalil, of the immigration detention center where he has been detained since early March while the Trump administration was trying to expel him because of his role in Propalestinian demonstrations.
District judge Michael Farbiarz announced the decision from New Jersey, in response to a request from Khalil lawyers to release him on bond or, at the very least, to transfer him from a Louisiana prison to New Jersey so that he can get closer to his wife and newborn baby.
Mr. Khalil was the first person arrested in the context of the repression measures taken by Donald Trump against the students who participated in the demonstrations organized on campuses to protest against the devastating war waged by Israel in Gaza. US Secretary of State Marco Rubio said Khalil should be expelled from the country because his presence could harm American foreign policy.
Judge Farbiarz had already judged that the government could not continue to hold Mr. Khalil for these reasons, but the Trump administration argued that he was rather detained because of allegations that he lied at his request for a green card. Mr. Khalil disputes the accusations that he was not frank in his request.
Mr. Khalil, who legally resides in the United States, was arrested on March 8 in his building in Manhattan because of his participation in Propaletinian demonstrations. His lawyers claim that the Trump administration is just trying to suppress freedom of expression.
Mr. Khalil is not accused of having violated laws during demonstrations in Columbia. The graduate student in international affairs served as a negotiator and spokesperson for activist students. He was not one of the demonstrators arrested, but his importance in media coverage and his willingness to speak publicly made him a target for criticism.
The Trump administration argued that non-citizens who participate in such demonstrations should be expelled from the country because it considers that their opinions are anti-Semitic.
