Federal Judge Blocks Deportation of Pro-Palestinian Activist Based on Vague Immigration Law
Federal Judge Blocks Deportation of Pro-Palestinian Activist Based on Vague Immigration Law
A New Jersey federal judge has blocked the Trump administration’s attempt to deport or detain Mahmoud Khalil, a Columbia University graduate and pro-Palestinian activist. The ruling hinges on a rarely used provision of immigration law, deemed unconstitutionally vague by Judge Michael Farbiarz. The judge found that Khalil’s detention, based on Secretary of State Marco Rubio’s assessment that Khalil’s advocacy compromised foreign policy, caused irreparable harm to his career and reputation, effectively chilling his speech.
The judge rejected the government’s secondary argument for detention—alleged inaccuracies in Khalil’s residency application—finding that such omissions rarely result in detention for lawful permanent residents. This strongly suggests that the Secretary of State’s determination, rather than the secondary charge, was the primary driver of Khalil’s 13-week detention in a Louisiana immigration center.
The ruling is significant as it’s the first to prevent the deportation of an international student solely on foreign policy grounds. The government has until Friday to appeal. While a parallel immigration case in Louisiana ordered Khalil’s deportation, his legal team is actively challenging this decision, citing potential risks to Khalil’s safety should he be deported.
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