Federal Judge Blocks Trump Administration From Detaining Palestinian Activist Mahmoud Khalil
In a significant legal victory, a federal judge has barred the Trump administration from continuing the detention of Palestinian activist and Columbia University graduate Mahmoud Khalil. The decision came after Khalil’s legal team filed a habeas corpus petition, challenging the government’s efforts to remove him from the United States.
The judge granted a temporary stay of the injunction until Friday at 9:30 a.m., giving the government a narrow window to pursue an appellate review if it so chooses.
Khalil, who had become a prominent figure in campus protests advocating for Palestinian rights, had been held for more than three months in federal detention. His legal team argued that the Trump administration’s attempt to deport him was based solely on his political views, which they said are protected under the First Amendment.
In it, he defended his activism and rejected the notion that his pro-Palestinian views pose any threat to U.S. foreign policy.
His wife, Noor Abdalla, expressed relief and called for his immediate release in a statement following the court’s decision.
Khalil was among the first to be arrested in a series of detentions targeting pro-Palestinian students, as the Trump administration ramped up its campaign against what it called antisemitism on college campuses. While the administration had backed off plans to cancel hundreds of student visas, Khalil’s case remained a flashpoint — he was unable to attend his own graduation at Columbia and missed the birth of his first child due to his incarceration.
As a graduate student at Columbia, Khalil, a Palestinian refugee, played a key role during 2024’s campus demonstrations, acting as a liaison between student protesters and university officials.
Civil liberties advocates hailed the judge’s ruling as a major affirmation of constitutional protections.
The Trump administration, however, has maintained that Khalil’s activism is harmful to its foreign policy goals. In April, Secretary of State Marco Rubio issued a two-page memorandum outlining the administration’s rationale, claiming that Khalil’s actions could undermine U.S. efforts to combat antisemitism globally.
Amy Greer, Khalil’s attorney, dismissed the administration’s argument and praised the court’s ruling as a landmark moment.
“Today, the judge found what we already knew — the Rubio determination is unconstitutional.
Khalil’s detention has sparked widespread protests and calls for justice from supporters and advocacy groups nationwide. Many view his case as emblematic of broader concerns about the erosion of free speech and the political targeting of individuals based on their beliefs.
The outcome of this legal battle may set a precedent in future cases involving political speech and immigration enforcement. For now, Khalil’s family and supporters await the next step, hopeful that he will soon return home.