Washington, D.C. - A U.S. federal judge has ordered the release of Palestinian activist and Columbia University graduate student Mahmoud Khalil, bringing an end to over three months of detention by immigration authorities.

Khalil was arrested in March in connection with his participation in pro-Palestinian protests at Columbia University. His release on Friday was ordered by District Court Judge Michael Farbiarz in New Jersey, who rejected a last-minute attempt by the U.S. government to delay the decision.

Khalil, who has not been charged with any crime, spoke briefly to reporters upon his release from a Louisiana immigration detention facility, saying, “Justice prevailed, but it’s very long overdue. This shouldn’t have taken three months.”

The case has drawn national attention and criticism, particularly after Khalil was prevented from attending the birth of his son in April. His wife, Noor Abdalla, said, “After more than three months we can finally breathe a sigh of relief and know that Mahmoud is on his way home to me and Deen, who never should have been separated from his father.”

The American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU), which has been supporting Khalil’s legal challenge, welcomed the ruling.

Khalil is the first known protester to have his legal residency revoked under the Trump administration for participating in student-led protests over Palestine. Despite being a legal U.S. resident, his immigration status was targeted under a rarely used provision of immigration law allowing deportation for perceived “adverse foreign policy consequences.”

U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio invoked this clause to justify Khalil’s detention, a move widely condemned by rights groups and legal observers.

The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) objected to Friday’s ruling, insisting that only immigration courts—not federal judges—should decide on detention matters. DHS described the ruling as an example of “judicial overreach” that it claims undermines national security, though it did not provide evidence of any security risk posed by Khalil.

Judge Farbiarz’s ruling focused solely on the legality of Khalil’s detention—not his immigration status—and was filed as a habeas corpus petition, a standard legal recourse used to challenge unlawful imprisonment.

Khalil’s case is one of several where student activists, including Turkish scholar Rumeysa Ozturk and Columbia student Mohsen Mahdawi, were detained under similar circumstances. Courts have also ruled in favor of their release.

Critics argue the Trump administration’s tactics—including detaining students far from their homes and attorneys—are designed to isolate and silence political dissent.

Khalil, a New York resident married to a U.S. citizen, was transferred to a remote Louisiana facility during his detention. Supporters say the move was meant to distance him from legal resources and place him under a more conservative jurisdiction.

His release is seen as a significant legal and symbolic blow to efforts aimed at detaining student protesters over their pro-Palestinian advocacy.


By WafricNews Desk.