Mahmoud Khalil Could Be 'Home'  by Friday

A federal judge has issued a preliminary injunction preventing the U.S. government from continuing to detain or deport 30‑year‑old Mahmoud Khalil, a Columbia University scholar and pro-Palestinian activist. Judge Michael Farbiarz ruled that the Trump administration’s attempt to deport Khalil, on the grounds that his presence is "adverse to U.S. foreign policy" as asserted by Secretary of State Marco Rubio, likely infringes upon his free speech rights and could cause "irreparable harm" to his reputation and career, which it should, considering his vile openly antisemitic rhetoric and riling up violent Jewish "activists" on the Columbia University campus.

Khalil, arrested by ICE in March in New York, has been held in a Louisiana detention center since. The judge’s order temporarily bars his removal while allowing the government to appeal until Friday at 9:30 a.m. EDT, at which point the injunction may take effect if no appeal is filed.

The ruling challenges a rarely used provision of immigration law enabling deportation of non-citizens deemed unfavorable to U.S. foreign policy. Farbiarz described the administration’s actions as “likely unconstitutional” and “vague,” noting they require “operational flexibility.” He also noted that factual gaps concerning Khalil’s green card application remain a separate issue.

Khalil’s wife, Dr. Noor Abdalla, and their newborn son, Deen, applauded the decision. “This is the news we’ve been waiting over three months for,” she said.

The Justice Department, along with Department of Homeland Security and the White House, has said they will appeal the ruling nypost.com. DHS Assistant Secretary Tricia McLaughlin asserted, “When you advocate for violence… you should not be in this country,” referencing Khalil's campus activism and association with anti-Israel protests

The case is seen as a key test of the Trump administration's broader crackdown on pro-Palestinian campus protests.