In a powerful rebuke of U.S. immigration enforcement, a federal judge in New Jersey has ordered the release of Palestinian rights activist and Columbia University graduate Mahmoud Khalil, ending months of detention that drew sharp criticism from human rights groups and student communities.
The ruling came on Friday, June 20, when District Judge Michael Farbiarz determined that Khalil’s detention violated his First Amendment rights, citing that he was being punished for his political speech in support of Palestine.
“The government has infringed on Mr. Khalil’s freedom of expression,” Judge Farbiarz declared in an earlier statement on June 11.
👨🎓 Who Is Mahmoud Khalil?
Khalil, a legal U.S. resident and graduate of Columbia University, rose to national attention in 2023 after playing a prominent role in pro-Palestinian protests on campus, denouncing Israeli military operations in Gaza.
In March 2024, officers from U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) arrested him at his university housing, citing his refusal to provide certain documentation related to his immigration status—though advocates say the move was politically motivated.
He was held for months in a detention center in Louisiana, despite no active criminal charges, prompting outrage from civil rights attorneys, academics, and international observers.
⚖️ A Battle Between Free Speech & Immigration Law
Khalil’s legal team argued that his prolonged detention was retaliatory, targeting him for his peaceful political activism and his vocal criticism of U.S. foreign policy on Palestine.
Even after Judge Farbiarz’s initial order on June 11 acknowledged the constitutional violation, a Louisiana immigration judge refused to authorize his release on June 13.
Finally, on June 20, the New Jersey federal court reaffirmed the order, resulting in Khalil’s immediate release from the Louisiana ICE facility.
🗣️ Khalil’s Statement After Release
Speaking after his release, Khalil said:
“I was punished for exercising my right to speak for justice. But I am not broken. This fight is far from over—not just for me, but for every Palestinian voice being silenced.”
Human rights groups have now called for a thorough review of ICE detention practices, especially in politically sensitive cases.
🌍 Wider Impact: Palestine Solidarity & U.S. Civil Liberties
The case has sparked a broader conversation about the intersection of immigration enforcement and civil rights, particularly for Palestinian-American residents during a time of heightened tensions in the Middle East.
Zahra Billoo, executive director of the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR), called the ruling “a major legal victory in the face of political intimidation.”
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