Jena, LA (AP) – Palestinian activist Mahmoud Khalil was released from federal immigration custody on Friday after becoming a symbol of justice 104 days later. President Donald Trump faced criticism as campus protests unfolded.
The former Columbia University graduate student exited the federal facility in Louisiana on Friday and is expected to travel to New York to reunite with his US citizen wife. Their young son, born during Khalil’s detention, will also be part of this emotional reunion.
“Justice has prevailed, but it has been a long wait,” he stated outside the remote facility in Louisiana. “This process should have taken three months.”
The Trump administration sought to deport Khalil due to his involvement in pro-Palestinian protests, having been detained on March 8th at his Manhattan apartment.
Khalil’s release came after US District Judge Michael Fabiartz remarked that it is “very rare” for the government to detain lawful US residents not accused of violence, noting they are generally not a flight risk.
“The petitioner is not a flight risk, and the evidence shows he poses no threat to the community,” he asserted. “That should conclude the matter.”
A judge from New Jersey stated during a one-hour phone hearing that the government “clearly fails to meet” the criteria for detention.
The government filed a notice late Friday indicating Khalil’s release was under appeal.
According to the Department of Homeland Security’s post on Social Platform X, a Louisiana immigration judge ordered Khalil’s release the same day. The bond request was denied by Judge Jamie Commans at the courthouse in the same detention facility as Khalil.
“The immigration judge holds the authority to decide whether Khalil should be released or detained,” the statement noted.
Khalil was the first to be arrested under the Trump administration’s tough stance on students engaged in protests related to The War in Gaza. Secretary of State Marco Rubio claimed Khalil’s continued presence could jeopardize American foreign policy, insisting on his expulsion.
The administration contended that non-citizens participating in such demonstrations should face deportation, citing concerns about anti-Semitism. Protesters and civil rights advocates argue that the administration conflates anti-Semitism with criticism of Israel to stifle dissent.
Judge Fabiartz emphasized that the government cannot justify Khalil’s deportation based solely on claims that his presence undermines foreign policy. However, the judge also allowed for the possibility that the government could pursue deportation based on allegations of misrepresentation in Khalil’s green card application.
As a graduate student in international affairs, Khalil has not been accused of wrongdoing during the protests at Columbia. He played a role as a negotiator and spokesperson for student activists, and although he did not participate in arrests, his visibility made him a significant target.
The judge concurred with Khalil’s attorney on Friday, affirming that preventing protesters from exercising their free speech rights and due process had no valid justification for his prolonged detention. The judge acknowledged Khalil’s status as a public figure.
Khalil expressed on Friday that no one should face detention for protesting the Israeli actions in Gaza. His time in the detention facility in Jena, Louisiana, had revealed a “different reality about this country that champions human rights, freedom, and justice.”
“Being a US citizen or an immigrant does not strip away one’s humanity,” he expressed, adding, “Regardless of what this administration tries to project, justice ultimately prevails.”
Although Khalil had to surrender his passport and is prohibited from international travel, he received official documents permitting limited travel within the country, including to New York and Michigan.
In a statement following the judge’s ruling, Khalil’s wife, Dr. Noor Abdallah, expressed relief after her husband’s three months in detention. She said, “This ruling reflects that the Trump administration hasn’t yet addressed the injustices inflicted on our families and many others. But today, we are back in New York, celebrating Mahmoud’s reunion with our small family.”
The judge’s decision follows the release of other scholars who faced similar fates due to their activism, including a former Palestinian student from Columbia, Mohsen Mahadawi; students from Tufts University; Rumeysa Ozturk; and a scholar at Georgetown University, Badar Khan Suri.
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Marcelo reported from New York. Jennifer Peltz contributed from New York.
Source: apnews.com