A federal judge has blocked the deportation of a pro-Palestine activist recently arrested by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE). Mahmoud Khalil, a graduate of Columbia University, was arrested on Saturday, March 8. However, U.S. District Judge Jesse M. Furman temporarily blocked Khalil’s deportation, stating that he would be able to stay in the United States while the court considered a habeas corpus challenge to his arrest.
“To preserve the Court’s jurisdiction pending a ruling on the petition, Petitioner shall not be removed from the United States unless and until the Court orders otherwise,” Judge Furman wrote in his order blocking separation proceedings issued late Monday. A conference hearing is scheduled for Wednesday, March 12.
A Department of Homeland Security (DHS) spokesman stated that Khalil was arrested due to his activist activities, which are said to be both antisemitic and aligned with the terror group Hamas. Khalil was one of the organizers of pro-Palestine protests last spring at Columbia University.
On March 10, hundreds gathered in New York City to protest the arrest of Khalil and demanded his release. More protests are scheduled to take place over the coming days.
President Donald J. Trump commented on Khalil’s arrest on Monday, saying, “We will find, apprehend, and deport these terrorist sympathizers from our country—never to return again. If you support terrorism, including the slaughtering of innocent men, women, and children, your presence is contrary to our national and foreign policy interests, and you are not welcome here.”