Wed Mar 12 19:13:04 UTC 2025: **New York Court Battles Deportation of Palestinian Activist**
NEW YORK, NY – Hundreds rallied outside a Manhattan federal court Wednesday demanding the release of Mahmoud Khalil, a 29-year-old Palestinian activist and Columbia University graduate facing deportation. Khalil, a US permanent resident, was arrested over the weekend by Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) and is currently detained in Louisiana.
His lawyers argued in court for his immediate return to New York, citing the distance from his legal team and pregnant wife, and alleging his detention is solely due to his pro-Palestinian activism. The judge, Jesse Furman, granted Khalil and his lawyers two privileged phone calls and temporarily blocked his deportation earlier this week. However, the government lawyer indicated they would challenge the court’s jurisdiction.
The arrest stems from a State Department request to revoke Khalil’s green card, citing national security concerns. The White House and Secretary of State Marco Rubio maintain this is not about free speech, but Khalil’s lawyers counter that the legal provision used is being improperly wielded to silence dissent.
President Trump, who has publicly celebrated the arrest, has vowed to deport foreign students involved in pro-Palestinian demonstrations, escalating concerns about free speech and a crackdown on pro-Palestinian activism within the US. Experts have criticized the move, arguing it aims to appease right-wing supporters and silence public support for Palestinian human rights. The legal basis for Khalil’s detention remains contested, with the government’s justification centered on the Secretary of State’s determination of Khalil’s supposed threat to national security. The case is scheduled to continue with further legal arguments.
First Piper 