Mar 13, 2025
Khalil v. Trump
On March 8, 2025, federal immigration enforcement agents arrested Mahmoud Khalil, a Palestinian recent graduate of Columbia University who was formerly one of the lead negotiators on behalf of pro-Palestine protestors on the Columbia campus in spring 2024. They first indicated that the government had revoked his student visa, but when Mahmoud’s wife Dr. Noor Abdalla showed them his green card and explained that he was a permanent resident, the agents represented that they had revoked that, too—even though permanent residents are entitled to due process before any revocation of their status.
Khalil’s unlawful arrest and detention represent a frightening escalation in the Trump administration’s efforts to silence speech of which they are critical. Under the First Amendment, the federal government does not have the authority to deport individuals or revoke their residency on the basis of viewpoint alone.
Related Documents
- 3rd Circuit Decision (1/15/26)
- Fourth Amended Petition (10/6)
- Letter to Federal Court in New Jersey (9/17)
- Brief to Third Circuit Court (9/10)
- 7/30 Third Circuit Order
- 7/17 Order Enforcing and Clarifying Preliminary Injunction
- Certificate of Service (7/9)
- Exhibit H - NPR Article: 'They wanted to separate me from my family': Mahmoud Khalil speaks after ICE release (7/9)
- Exhibit G - New York Times Article: ‘It Felt Like Kidnapping,’ Khalil Says in First Interview Since Release (7/9)
- Exhibit F - Emily Ryo Declaration (7/9)
- Exhibit E - Dana Leigh Marks Declaration (7/9)
- Exhibit D - Kerry E. Doyle Declaration (7/9)
- Exhibit C - White House Fact Sheet: President Donald J. Trump Takes Forceful and Unprecedented Steps to Combat Anti-Semitism (7/9)
- Exhibit B - Johnny Sinodis Declaration (7/9)
- Exhibit A - Mahmoud Khalil Declaration (7/9)
- Veronica R. Salama Declaration (7/9)
- Order (7/9)
- Memorandum of Law in Support of Petitioner's Motion for Preliminary Injunction Regarding the Post-Hoc Charge (7/9)
- Notice of Motion for Preliminary Injunction (7/9)
- Preliminary Injunction Memorandum re Post Hoc Charge (7/9)
- Letter on Release (6/13)
- Exhibit Q - Redacted Declaration (Stigma Expert) (6/4)
- Exhibit P - Kerry Doyle Declaration (6/4)
- Exhibit N - Christopher J Le Mon Declaration (6/4)
- Exhibit M - Josh Paul Declaration (6/4)
- Exhibit L - Stacy Tolchin Declaration (6/4)
- Exhibit K - Ira Kurzban Declaration (6/4)
- Exhibit J - Stephanie Fox Declaration (6/4)
- Exhibit I - John Raphling Declaration (6/4)
- Exhibit H - Columbia University Students Declarations (6/4)
- Exhibit G - Columbia University Professors Declarations (6/4)
- Exhibit F - Legal Service Providers Declarations (6/4)
- Exhibit E - Tall v Trump Declarations (6/4)
- Exhibit D - AAUP Professors' Declaration (6/4)
- Exhibit C - Declaration of Johnny Sinodis (6/4)
- Exhibit B - Declaration of Dr. Noor Abdalla (6/4)
- Exhibit A - Declaration of Mahmoud Khalil (6/4)
- Declaration of Veronica Salama (6/4)
- Letter on Irreparable Harm Due to Rubio Determination (6/4)
- Opinion on Jurisdiction (4/29)
- Letter from Petitioner (4/28)
- Exhibit B - Order Scheduling Hearing (4/28)
- Exhibit A - Order Denying Motion to Terminate (4/28)
- Notice by all Parties in response to Order ECF 208, Filings in Immigration Court (4/24)
- Exhibit Ptr Reply iso Mtn Terminate re 4A Violations (4/24)
- Exhibit DHS Opp Mtn Terminate re 4A Violations (4/24)
- Exhibit Additional Evidence Refuting Charges (4/24)
- Letter from Petitioner in response to Order ECF 208 (4/23)
- Letter from Petitioner regarding Sealed Filings (4/21)
- Exhibit Redacted Filing ECF 204 (4/21)
- Petitioner Notice of Supplemental Authority (4/20)
- Exhibit - Rubio Determination (4/12)
- Letter from the Government in response to Order ECF 178 (4/11)
- Letter from Petitioner in response to Order ECF 178 (4/11)
- Letter from the Government in response to Order ECF 178 (4/10)
- Letter from Petitioner in response to Order 178 (4/10)
- Order (4/8)
- Pet'r Reply in Support of Motion for Preliminary Injunctive Relief (4/6)
- Declaration of Molly K.C. Linhorst (4/6)
- Declaration of Ira J. Kurzban (4/6)
- Proposed Amicus Brief by National Jewish Advocacy Center (4/5)
- Motion for Leave to File Brief of Amicus Curiae by National Jewish Advocacy Center (4/5)
- Pet'r Letter Requesting Leave to File Overlength Reply (4/4)
- Pet'r Letter about Court's opinion and Order on 4/4 (4/4)
- Order Granting Motion for Leave to File Amicus Brief by Immigration Reform Law Institute (4/4)
- Opinion and Order (4/4)
- Govt Letter with Unopposed Request to Accept Brief of Overlength Nunc Pro Tunc (4/4)
- Second Amended Petition for Writ of Habeas Corpus and Complaint (4/3)
- Pet'r' Letter in Response to Court Order Regarding Interlocutory Appeal re Motion to Transfer (4/3)
- Govt Letter in Response to Court's Order Regarding Interlocutory Appeal re Motion for Transfer (4/3)
- Certification in Support of Pet'r's Habeas Petition (4/3)
- Proposed Amicus Brief by Immigration Reform Law Institute (4/2)
- Order Regarding Interlocutory Appeal (4/2)
- Motion for Leave to File Amicus Brief by Immigration Reform Law Institute (4/2)
- Govts Brief in Opposition to Motion for Preliminary Injunction (4/2)
- Govt Letter Responding to Court's Order on Venue (4/2)
- Declaration of Field Office Director Melissa Harper (4/2)
- Opinion & Order on Venue (4/1)
- Government Brief in Opposition to Petitioner's Cross-Motion for Re-Transfer and Reply Brief in Support of Motion to Dismiss or Transfer (3/26)
- Amended Memorandum of Law in Support of Motion for Preliminary Injunction (3/25)
- Petitioner's Memorandum of Law in Opposition to Government Motion to Dismiss/Transfer and in Support of Cross Motion to Re-Transfer (3/24)
- Reply to Government Opposition to Motion for Release Under Lucas v. Hadden & Mapp v. Reno (3/24)
- Government Opposition to Motion for Release Under Lucas v. Hadden & Mapp v. Reno (3/23)
- Supplemental Memorandum of Law in Support of Motion to Return Petitioner (3/21)
- Government Supplemental Brief in Opposition to Motion for Petitioner's Return (3/21)
- Government Motion to Transfer Case to Western District of Louisiana (3/20)
- Amended Memorandum of Law in Support of Motion for Release (3/20)
- Exhibit I, Supplemental Letters of Support (3/20)
- Order Barring Deportation of Mr. Khalil (3/19)
- Opinion and Order on Transfer (3/19)
- Petitioner's Memorandum of Law in Support of Motion for Preliminary Injunctive Relief (3/17)
- Notice of Motion for Preliminary Injunction (3/17)
- Declaration of Samah Sisay in Support of Motion for Release re: Castillo (3/15)
- Exhibit H, Castillo-Maradiaga v. Decker (3/15)
- Declaration of Samah Sisay in Support of Motion to Seal with Redacted Exhibits (3/15)
- Exhibit A, Declaration of Noor Ramez Abdalla in Support of Motion to Release (3/15)
- Exhibit B, MPA Confirmation for Mahmoud Khalil (3/15)
- Exhibit C, Identity Documents for Mahmoud Khalil (3/15)
- Exhibit D, Notice to Appear for Mahmoud Khalil (3/15)
- Exhibit E, Certificate of Marriage for Mahmoud Khalil & Noor Abdalla (3/15)
- Exhibit F, Medical Letters for Noor Abdalla (3/15)
- Exhibit G, Letters of Support for Mahmoud Khalil (3/15)
- Letter Motion to Seal/Redact (3/15)
- Memorandum of Law in Support of Motion for Release Under Mapp v. Reno (3/15)
- Notice of Motion for Release Under Mapp v. Reno (3/14)
- Proposed Order of Release Under Mapp v. Reno (3/14)
- Memorandum of Law in Opposition to Defendants' Motion to Dismiss (3/14)
- Declaration of Veronica R. Salama (3/14)
- Amended Petition for Writ of Habeas Corpus and Complaint (3/13)
- Joint Letter from Petitioner's Counsel (3/11)
- Declaration of Amy E. Greer (3/10)
- Memorandum of Law in Support of Petitioner's Return (3/10)
- Judge Furman Initial Order (3/10)
- Habeas Corpus Petition (3/9)
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