Court Upholds Detention of Pro-Palestinian Activist

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Activists gather to support the release of pro-Palestinian activist Mahmoud Khalil.

News Summary

U.S. District Court Judge Michael Farbiarz has permitted the continued detention of pro-Palestinian activist Mahmoud Khalil at LaSalle Detention Center. Khalil, a green card holder and Columbia University student, has been held for three months following his arrest by ICE on immigration-related charges. Despite claims of unconstitutional detention, the judge ruled to maintain Khalil’s custody due to alleged discrepancies in his green card application. His case has stirred national protests, highlighting the intersection of immigration policy and political expression in the U.S.

Jena, Louisiana – U.S. District Court Judge Michael Farbiarz has ruled to allow the continued detention of pro-Palestinian activist Mahmoud Khalil at the LaSalle Detention Center. Khalil, a green card holder and student at Columbia University, has been held for three months after his arrest by Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents on March 8 in his university dormitory.

At the time of his apprehension, Khalil possessed permanent legal status in the U.S. and had not faced criminal charges. However, the Trump administration cited the Immigration and Nationality Act of 1952 to support Khalil’s detention, proposing that he posed a risk to foreign relations. Following this, Secretary of State Marco Rubio revoked his green card, claiming Khalil was a threat.

Judge Farbiarz found that Rubio’s justification for detaining Khalil was likely unconstitutional but permitted the continued hold under different claims, including allegations of providing false information on his green card application.

Khalil’s legal representatives contend that his detention is a consequence of his activism advocating for Palestinian rights. His attorney has highlighted that Khalil’s detention not only serves as a punishment for his political stance but has also separated him from his wife and newborn son, Deen. Khalil missed the birth of his child and was only able to hold him for the first time months after his detention.

Protests across the nation have emerged in response to Khalil’s situation, with supporters asserting that his treatment infringes upon his rights to free speech and due process. Activists, including well-known figures, have publicly supported Khalil, reading a letter he penned to Deen as a means of expressing solidarity ahead of Father’s Day.

The judge’s ruling permits the Department of Justice to continue Khalil’s detention based on immigration statutes. Khalil’s case has garnered significant attention from pro-Palestinian activists and civil liberties advocates who argue that his detention exemplifies the troubling intersection of immigration enforcement and political expression in the context of U.S. foreign policy regarding Israel and Palestine.

Justice Department officials have claimed that Khalil has “glorified and supported terrorists,” allegations which Khalil has consistently denied. His legal team is poised to challenge the government’s assertions, characterizing them as unfounded and a strategic use of delay tactics to silence him.

As the situation unfolds, the implications of Khalil’s continued detention could reverberate beyond his personal case, raising questions about the government’s power to detain permanent residents based on their political viewpoints. While Khalil remains in custody, his supporters and legal team are dedicated to fighting for his release, asserting that the grounds for his detention are spurious.

Judge Farbiarz, appointed under the Biden administration, is overseeing Khalil’s ongoing case, which first arose during ICE detention proceedings. The legal battle continues to highlight the complexities of immigration law and its intersection with advocates for political causes.