Mahmoud Khalil is a recent Columbia graduate student and U.S. green card holder. The Trump administration snatched him from his home and wants to deport him, even though he is a legal permanent resident who is not, and has never been, accused of, charged with, or convicted of any crime.
Here’s the latest on his case and what you should know about it.
There Are Two Tracks to Mr. Khalil’s Legal Case
Mr. Khalil has two different cases, his immigration case before an immigration judge in Louisiana and a federal case before a District Court judge in New Jersey.
Earlier this month, the judge in the immigration case ruled that Mr. Khalil is deportable based solely on an undated two-page letter from Secretary of State Marco Rubio that stated Mr. Khalil’s beliefs compromised U.S. foreign policy interests with no other material evidence. After denying Mr. Khalil’s lawyers’ efforts to challenge the adequacy of that letter, the immigration judge appeared to read from a pre-written decision and ruled that Mr. Khalil is deportable and that his immigration case will proceed.
This outcome, although disturbing, was not surprising. The next step in the immigration case is for Mr. Khalil to appeal this decision through the immigration court system, and otherwise to seek relief from deportation through asylum or another type of available relief.
The fight isn’t over. It’s not a coincidence that Mr. Khalil, and other advocates for Palestine targeted by the Trump administration, have been shipped to Louisiana and Texas. The government wants to keep cases like these within the oversight of immigration court and in jurisdictions where they believe they have the best chance of winning.
The Federal Case
In federal court, we’re challenging the constitutionality of Mr. Khalil’s detention – and Trump’s policy of targeting people expressing similar views. We’re asking the federal judge to release Mr. Khalil from detention and return him to his wife, who is nine-months-pregnant, and community.
Last week’s immigration court hearing underscores the urgent need for federal courts to intervene when the executive branch claims unfettered authority to deport people because they don’t like who they are or what they say. The Trump administration has selectively targeted Mr. Khalil. But ideas are not illegal, and political speech is not grounds for deportation.
We will not stop fighting for his freedom.
Mr. Khalil’s legal team in his federal case includes the New York Civil Liberties Union, the ACLU, the ACLU of New Jersey, the City University of New York’s CLEAR clinic, the Center for Constitutional Rights, Alina Das of Washington Square Legal Services, Van Der Hout LLP and Amy Greer of Dratel + Lewis).
