Fri Jun 20 18:00:00 UTC 2025: Okay, here’s a news article summarizing and rewriting the provided text:
**Federal Judge Orders Release of Pro-Palestinian Activist Detained by Immigration Authorities**
**NEW YORK, NY** – A federal judge has ordered the release of Mahmoud Khalil, a pro-Palestinian activist and Columbia University graduate who has been in immigration custody since March 8th. The ruling, delivered by U.S. District Court Judge Michael Farbiarz on Friday, rebukes the Trump administration’s attempt to use a Cold War-era statute to justify Khalil’s detention.
The case has drawn significant attention, particularly in light of President Trump’s pledge to crack down on critics of Israel’s military actions in Gaza. The government, represented by attorney Dhruman Sampat, argued that Congress granted the executive branch broad authority over immigration matters and that the courts should not interfere.
Judge Farbiarz, however, strongly disagreed. He stated that the record clearly demonstrates Khalil is neither a flight risk nor a danger to the public. “I’m going to exercise the discretion that I have to order the release of the petitioner in this case,” Farbiarz stated during the remote hearing, declining the government’s request for a seven-day stay on his order.
Secretary of State Marco Rubio had cited a provision of the Immigration and Nationality Act of 1952, arguing that Khalil poses a national security risk and should be removed. This argument has been met with strong opposition from Khalil’s supporters, who allege that the government’s actions are a blatant attempt to suppress free speech and silence dissent against Israeli policy.
While the ruling orders Khalil’s release, the exact timing of his departure from a detention center in Jena, Louisiana, remains unclear. The case highlights ongoing tensions surrounding immigration policy, national security concerns, and the protection of free speech within the context of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.
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