Mahmoud Khalil's case should be heard in New Jersey, judge says
Add Axios as your preferred source to
see more of our stories on Google.
People gather outside of a New York court to protest the arrest and detention of Mahmoud Khalil at Foley Square on March 12 in New York City. Photo: Michael M. Santiago/Getty Images
A federal judge on Wednesday denied the Trump administration's request to dismiss Columbia University alumnus Mahmoud Khalil's challenge to his arrest by immigration authorities and agreed his case should be moved to New Jersey.
The big picture: The arrest of Khalil, a key leader in Columbia's pro-Palestinian protests and a green card holder, sparked mass concern among immigration and free speech advocates, as the administration promises more arrests to come.
Driving the news: District Judge Jesse Furman agreed with the government in part of his order, saying that Khalil's case should not be heard in the Southern District of New York.
- But he sided with Khalil in saying the case should be moved to New Jersey, not dismissed or transferred to Louisiana as the government sought to do.
- He kept his order in place barring the government from removing Khalil.
- Furman said it will be up to the New Jersey court to consider Khalil's petition and various motions, such as his request to move from a detention facility in Louisiana to one in New York — or "perhaps now New Jersey."
Zoom out: Khalil, in a recently dictated letter from an ICE detention center in Louisiana, characterized himself as "a political prisoner."
- Recounting his March 8 arrest, Khalil said Department of Homeland Security officials would not tell him "anything for hours" after he was "handcuffed and forced ... into an unmarked car."
- "I did not know the cause of my arrest or if I was facing immediate deportation," he said.
- "The Trump administration is targeting me as part of a broader strategy to suppress dissent," Khalil continued. "Visa-holders, green-card carriers, and citizens alike will all be targeted for their political beliefs."
What they're saying: "We are ready to fight just as hard for Mr. Khalil in the district of New Jersey," said Amy Greer, an attorney representing Khalil, in a statement via the ACLU.
- "We will not stop working until Mr. Khalil is home with his wife and his green card is reinstated," she added.
Zoom in: Furman noted in his order the "serious allegations" made by Khalil's attorneys that the Trump administration arrested him — a lawful permanent resident and husband of a U.S. citizen — as retaliation for his participation in pro-Palestinian protests.
- "These are serious allegations and arguments that, no doubt, warrant careful review by a court of law; the fundamental constitutional principle that all persons in the United States are entitled to due process of law demands no less," his order read.
Between the lines: If Khalil's case had remained in Louisiana, it could have landed before one of the most conservative appeals courts in the country.
Editor's note: This story has been updated throughout with additional information.
