A legal battle over the fate of Mahmoud Khalil, a Columbia University activist swept up in an immigration crackdown, will unfold in New Jersey rather than Louisiana, a judge has ruled—potentially shifting the landscape of his case.
A federal court in Newark decided that Khalil, a pro-Palestinian demonstrator arrested by immigration authorities, can challenge his detention in New Jersey, despite currently being held in Louisiana. This means any appeals will go before the 3rd U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals, rather than the 5th Circuit, which is known for its conservative rulings.
Khalil, a legal permanent U.S. resident originally from a Palestinian refugee camp in Syria, was taken into custody in Manhattan on March 8. His arrest is part of a broader push to deport foreign students linked to campus protests against U.S. military support for Israel. The government argues that such activism undermines American foreign policy, while Khalil’s supporters say he is being unfairly targeted for his political beliefs.
His legal team contends that because he was initially detained in New Jersey before being transferred to Louisiana, he should be allowed to challenge his arrest in that jurisdiction. The judge agreed, noting that otherwise, Khalil might have had no legal venue to bring his case at all.
Khalil’s lawyers are also seeking his release so he can be with his wife, an American citizen, for the birth of their first child later this month. Whether the court grants that request remains uncertain, but the fight over his future is far from over.
