A federal judge ordered Columbia University student and activist Mahmoud Khalil to be released on bail, after he has spent over three months in detention. Mr Khalil became a symbol of the the Trump administration's crackdown on universities and foreign students when US Immigration and Customs Enforcement arrested him in New York on 8 March. Mr Khalil was a prominent voice in Columbia's pro-Palestinian protests last year, and his arrest sparked demonstrations in New York and Washington, DC. US District Judge Michael Farbiarz determined Mr Khalil was not a flight risk or threat to his community, and could be released during immigration proceedings, according to the BBC's partner CBS News. Mr Khalil graduated from Columbia while he was in detention. His wife took his place in the ceremony and accepted his diploma on his behalf. The government has not accused Mr Khalil of a specific crime. He has been held by Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) under two charges. Secretary of State Marco Rubio invoked a rarely-used portion of the Immigration and Nationality Act to argue Mr Khalil's presence in the US could pose "potentially serious adverse foreign policy consequences." Last week,Judge Farbiarz ruled Rubio's justification for detaining Mr Khalil was likely unconstitutionaland said the US government could not detain or deport the 30-year-old legal US resident under that reasoning. Attorneys for the Trump administrationthen said Mr Khalil was being held for a different reason,failing to disclose information when he applied for lawful permanent residency in 2024. Mr Khalil, who has been held in Louisiana since his arrest, remained in custody. Mr Khalil's attorneys have argued that the government is violating their client's free speech rights. They also asked the New Jersey federal court to free him on bail or transfer him closer to his wife and baby, who was born during his detention. Throughout Friday's two-hour hearing, Judge Farbiarz, who presides in the District of New Jersey, expressed scepticism of the government's requests to keep Mr Khalil detained while his case moves foward. He also said Mr Khalil's arrest and detention on the second charge was "highly unusual." "It's overwhelmingly unlikely that a lawful permanent resident would be held on the remaining charge here," Judge Farbiarz said, according to CBS News. He added that "there is an effort to use the immigration charge here to punish the petitioner" for his protests against Israel's military actions in Gaza. The ruling from the bench sets the stage for Mr Khalil to soon leave detention. Details of his bail requirements were not immediately available.
Judge orders Columbia student Mahmoud Khalil released on bail
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"Federal Judge Grants Bail to Columbia Student Mahmoud Khalil After Months of Detention"
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TruthLens AI Summary
A federal judge has ordered the release of Mahmoud Khalil, a Columbia University student and activist, on bail after he spent over three months in detention following his arrest by US Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) on March 8. Khalil, who had been a prominent figure in pro-Palestinian protests, became a symbol of the Trump administration's crackdown on foreign students and universities. His arrest triggered widespread demonstrations in both New York and Washington, D.C. During a recent ruling, US District Judge Michael Farbiarz determined that Khalil posed neither a flight risk nor a threat to the community, allowing him to be released while immigration proceedings are ongoing. Notably, Khalil graduated from Columbia while in detention, with his wife accepting his diploma on his behalf, highlighting the personal impact of his situation. The government has not charged Khalil with any specific crime but has detained him under two immigration-related charges.
The legal basis for Khalil's detention came under scrutiny during the proceedings, particularly when Secretary of State Marco Rubio cited a seldom-used provision of the Immigration and Nationality Act, claiming that Khalil's presence could lead to serious foreign policy consequences. However, Judge Farbiarz expressed skepticism about this justification, suggesting it was likely unconstitutional. He further noted that it was unusual for a lawful permanent resident to be held under the circumstances surrounding Khalil's detention. The judge indicated that there appeared to be an effort to penalize Khalil for his vocal opposition to Israel's military actions in Gaza. As a result of the ruling, Khalil is expected to be released soon, although specific details regarding his bail conditions have not yet been disclosed. His legal team has argued that his detention infringes upon his free speech rights and has sought to have him transferred closer to his family, including his newborn child, who was born during his time in custody.
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