Mar 12, 2025 - Politics & Policy

Columbia protest leader to remain detained at ICE facility

Sareen Habeshian

Columbia University student Mahmoud Khalil talks to reporters last June. Photo: Selcuk Acar/Anadolu via Getty Images

Columbia University protest leader Mahmoud Khalil will remain detained at an Immigration and Customs Enforcement facility in Louisiana, multiple outlets reported.

The big picture: U.S. District Judge Jesse M. Furman had blocked any attempt by the Trump administration earlier this week to deport Khalil, a lawful permanent U.S. resident with a green card, until the court said otherwise.

Khalil has not been charged with a crime.

Driving the news: Khalil has been unable to have a private conversation with his lawyers since his arrest Saturday, attorneys said during a hearing in Manhattan federal court Wednesday, the New York Times reports.

The judge granted a request from Khalil's lawyers to allow at least one privileged phone call with him a day on both Wednesday and Thursday.

Catch up quick: Khalil was detained by ICE on Saturday and was told at the time of his arrest that his student visa had been revoked.

His detention is being challenged in court because he is a legal permanent resident and not in the U.S. on a student visa.

Editor's note: This is a breaking news story. Please check back for updates.

More from Axios:

Add Axios on Google

Columbia protest leader to remain detained at ICE facility

What to read next