Wed Apr 02 05:20:00 UTC 2025: ## Federal Judge Rules in Favor of Detained Pro-Palestinian Activist
**New York, NY** – A US District Judge has ruled in favor of Mahmoud Khalil, a pro-Palestinian activist and Columbia University student, allowing him to challenge his detention in a New Jersey court. The decision, issued Tuesday by Judge Michael Farbiarz, represents a setback for the Trump administration, which had attempted to move the case to a more conservative Louisiana court.
Khalil, whose green card was revoked, was arrested in Manhattan on March 8th and briefly held in New Jersey before being transferred to a Louisiana detention facility without charges. The administration’s efforts to have his case heard in Louisiana, a move seen as an attempt to facilitate his deportation, have been twice rejected.
Khalil’s lawyer, Baher Azmy, hailed the ruling as a victory, stating the government’s actions were a “transparent attempt” to circumvent proper legal processes. Khalil’s pregnant wife, Dr. Noor Abdalla, a US citizen, expressed relief but emphasized that the fight for his release continues. Their son is expected on April 28th.
The case is considered a test of the Trump administration’s policy of deporting pro-Palestinian activists without criminal charges. The administration claims to have revoked the visas of hundreds of students involved in anti-Israel protests, a move that lawyers argue constitutes targeting individuals for their political beliefs.
While Tuesday’s ruling is a significant win for Khalil, it only addresses the jurisdictional dispute. His lawyers have separately requested his release from Louisiana detention pending the outcome of deportation proceedings, citing his wife’s impending childbirth. The judge’s decision doesn’t guarantee Khalil’s immediate release from the Louisiana facility.
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