Tue Apr 22 05:14:51 UTC 2025: ## Pro-Palestinian Activist’s Wife Accuses US Government of Punitive Tactics After Deportation Detainment
**New York, NY** – The wife of Mahmoud Khalil, a pro-Palestinian activist detained by US Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) and facing deportation, has accused the US government of deliberately inflicting suffering on her family to silence his activism. Noor Abdalla, a US citizen, gave birth to the couple’s first child in New York on Monday, without Khalil present. ICE denied his request for temporary release to attend the birth.
Abdalla stated that ICE’s refusal was a “purposeful decision” designed to punish her family for Khalil’s pro-Palestinian advocacy. Khalil, a Columbia University graduate student, was detained on March 8th as part of the Trump administration’s crackdown on pro-Palestinian activism. The government seeks his deportation, alleging his activism undermines efforts to combat anti-Semitism and protect Jewish students. Khalil, a permanent US resident, denies these allegations.
An immigration judge recently ruled that deportation proceedings could proceed, a decision Khalil’s lawyers plan to appeal. Abdalla vowed to continue fighting for his release, emphasizing that the government’s actions have robbed her son of the opportunity to know his father during his formative days. ICE has not yet commented on the accusations. The case has reignited debate surrounding the limits of free speech and the targeting of pro-Palestinian activism within the United States.
First Piper 