Trump can no longer detain Columbia University student Mahmoud Khalil, US judge rules

Judge Farbiarz, in his verdict, noted that the Trump administration was violating the free speech right of student and activist Khalil by detaining and trying to deport him under a US immigration law which is rarely used, that gives power to US secretary of state to seek the deportation of any non-US citizen whose presence in the country is viewed as a threat to America’s foreign policy.

Pro-Palestinian demonstrator Mahmoud Khalil, second from left, debates with a pro-Israel demonstrator during a protest at Columbia University. (AP photo)

Khalil was detained by US authorities in March after he had been deemed as a threat to US foreign policy by Secretary of State Marco Rubio. Khalil has not been charged with any crime.

Judge Farbiarz, in his ruling, wrote “The petitioner’s career and reputation are being damaged and his speech is being chilled and this adds up to irreparable harm.”

The judge also barred the Trump administration from deporting Khalil on the similar grounds claimed by the latter that the Columbia University student’s presence could harm US foreign policy.

After hearing about the court’s decision, Khalil’s wife Dr. Noor Abdalla said “This is the news we’ve been waiting over three months for. Mahmoud must be released immediately and safely returned home to New York to be with me and our newborn baby, Deen,” Reuters reported.