Judge says government must release Columbia protester Mahmoud Khalil, but has until Friday to appeal
June 11, 2025
A federal judge has ruled that the government cannot deport and must release Mahmoud Khalil, the student whom the Trump administration jailed over his participation in pro-Palestinian demonstrations at Columbia University. But the legal U.S. resident will remain in custody until at least Friday, giving the government time to appeal, U.S. District Judge Michael Farbiarz said. Khalil was detained by federal immigration agents on March 8 in New York and flown to an immigration detention center in Louisiana. Khalil’s lawyers say the Trump administration is trying to crack down on free speech. U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio says he has the power to deport Khalil and that his presence in the U.S. could harm foreign policy.
