Pro-Palestinian Activist Mahmoud Khalil Ordered Out Of Detention

Ted Shaffrey/AP photo

A federal judge announced Friday that he will order the release of Palestinian activist and Columbia University student Mahmoud Khalil.

Khalil was first detained by immigration authorities at his campus apartment in March. Officials within President Donald Trump’s administration — as well as Trump himself — have insisted that the graduate student organized pro-Hamas activities at Columbia. Student protesters on campus demanded that the university divest from companies supporting the war in Gaza, and Khalil was the lead negotiator between the students and the university.

The 30-year-old has remained in custody since then, missing the recent birth of his child in the process. Khalil is married to an American citizen. In April, a judge ruled that Khalil — a green card holder — could be deported.

Per The Associated Press, Judge Michael Farbiarz will now order Khalil to be released from immigration content. The report continues:

Lawyers for the Columbia graduate had asked a federal judge to immediately release him on bail from a Louisiana jail, or else transfer him to New Jersey, where he can be closer to his wife and newborn son.

Notably, Khalil was never accused of committing a crime. Trump officials said he was engaged in “pro-Palestinian activity” and baselessly accused of him of having ties to Hamas. Secretary of State Marco Rubio even suggested that Khalil’s mere presence threatened national security.