Deporting Mahmoud Khalil for political views likely unconstitutional: US judge
A federal judge has raised serious constitutional concerns about the Trump administration's attempt to deport Mahmoud Khalil, a legal US resident and pro-Palestinian activist at Columbia University. Judge Michael Farbiarz said in a ruling on Wednesday that the effort to remove Khalil over his campus activism was likely unconstitutional, as reported by The Associated Press. However, the judge declined to release Khalil from detention, citing unresolved issues with his immigration paperwork.advertisementKhalil was arrested on March 8 by immigration agents in the lobby of his university-owned apartment and later transferred to a detention facility in Jena, Louisiana, far from his legal team and his wife, a US citizen who gave birth to their child while he was in custody.
His detention marked the first under President Donald Trump's expanded crackdown on student demonstrators protesting Israel's military actions in Gaza.The government claims Khalil failed to disclose certain personal information in his green card application. While Judge Farbiarz found that Khalil's legal team hadn't adequately addressed this point, he also sharply criticized a separate deportation order issued by Secretary of State Marco Rubio. Rubio invoked a rarely-used law citing 'potentially serious adverse foreign policy consequences' to justify Khalil's removal. The judge warned that this could lead to 'arbitrary enforcement' and is likely unconstitutional.advertisementKhalil's lawyers argue his arrest and detention are part of a broader campaign to silence political dissent. The judge has said he will issue guidance on the next steps in the coming days. However, the State Department has not responded to inquiries about the case.Khalil, a Palestinian-American and permanent US resident with a green card, was raised in a refugee camp in Syria and has had a varied professional journey, including a position at the British Embassy in Beirut. He graduated from Columbia University's School of International and Public Affairs in December of last year. Khalil played a prominent role as the lead negotiator for the Columbia University Arab Delegation (CUAD) and was actively involved in the Gaza solidarity encampment held on campus last spring, where dozens of tents were set up in protest. (With inputs from Associated Press)
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Time of India
22 minutes ago
- Time of India
Trump said Pak gave ‘nothing but lies'. So why is he rewarding it?
Trump said Pak gave 'nothing but lies'. So why is he rewarding it? Sachin Parasher TNN May 30, 2025, 17:20 IST IST Despite once slamming Pakistan for deceit and terror links, Trump's muddled response to India's Operation Sindoor — from backing Modi to proposing mediation — risks alienating a key US ally and reviving Cold War-era hyphenation that India rejects outright Not even one year into his first term as president, Donald Trump famously said that the US foolishly gave Pakistan more than $33bn in aid over 15 years, and all Pakistan gave in return was nothing but lies and deceit, thinking of 'our leaders as fools'. They give safe haven to the terrorists we hunt in Afghanistan, added Trump in a post on what was then called Twitter. Cut to 2025 and probe how Trump, more confident and uncompromising in his second term, fared in dealing with India's Operation Sindoor that, as Prime Minister Narendra Modi said, set out a new normal — nuclear blackmail won't shield terrorists and Pakistan Army will have hell to pay the next time it uses its terror toolkit against India.
Mint
26 minutes ago
- Mint
New US plan to pause Gaza war draws Hamas criticism
The U.S. has presented Israel and Hamas with a new proposal to pause the fighting in the Gaza Strip, though the militant group has already criticized it for not requiring an end to the 20-month conflict. The agreement calls for Hamas to release 10 of the roughly 20 hostages Israel believes are still alive and the bodies of another 19 within the first week of the deal in exchange for a 60-day cease-fire and the release of Palestinians held by Israel, according to a draft reviewed by The Wall Street Journal. The draft says President Trump would announce the deal if an agreement is reached, and envoy Steve Witkoff would preside over the talks. The U.S. said Israel has signed off on the proposal. Hamas has said it is studying it, but Hamas officials have criticized its lack of a commitment to halt the fighting or clarify the withdrawal of Israeli forces. The proposal is an attempt to stop further escalation of the fighting that erupted after the previous cease-fire collapsed two months ago, pushing the toll in Gaza to more than 54,000 dead, according to Palestinian health authorities, who don't say how many were combatants. Israel at the time failed to begin talks on a permanent end to the conflict, and Hamas stopped releasing hostages it held in Gaza, a breakdown that was followed by resumed Israeli airstrikes and a broader deployment of ground troops. Negotiators have since tried various formulas, including a shorter-term pause in the fighting and longer-term halts that wouldn't require Israel to commit to a permanent end to the war. The fighting was sparked by Hamas's Oct. 7, 2023, attacks on southern Israel that left around 1,200 dead and 251 people taken hostage. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has said he won't stop the war until Hamas is destroyed in Gaza. The U.S.-designated terrorist group has been battered by the months of war, and most of its leadership has been killed. But it continues to recruit and still holds sway in the Gaza Strip, where there is no clear alternative to its authority. Write to Summer Said at
&w=3840&q=100)
First Post
38 minutes ago
- First Post
2 Indian-Americans elected to top Harvard boards amid row with Trump. Who are they?
Anjali Sud and Sanjay Seth have been elected to join Harvard University's Board of Overseers and the Harvard Alumni Association, respectively. Their appointments come amid ongoing legal and political challenges faced by the university under the Donald Trump-led administration. Notably, Anjali was born in Michigan to Punjabi immigrant parents, while Seth was born in Australia to Indian-origin parents read more Anjali Sud and Sanjay Seth have been chosen to join Harvard University's Board of Overseers and the Harvard Alumni Association, respectively. Image: Harvard University Amid an ongoing legal fight with the Donald Trump-led administration, Harvard University's top committees have brought in two Indian-origin alumni. Anjali Sud and Sanjay Seth have been chosen to join Harvard University's Board of Overseers and the Harvard Alumni Association, respectively. Anjali takes the place of Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney, who left the university's board on March 9. That was also the day the Liberal Party selected him as its new leader, replacing Justin Trudeau. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD ALSO READ | Harvard wins temporary reprieve from Trump administration's foreign students ban. What happens now? Who are Anjali Sud and Sanjay Seth? What roles have they been given, and what do those roles involve? We break it down in this explainer, along with the latest on the Trump vs Harvard case. Here's a look: Who is Anjali Sud? The Indian-American business leader is the CEO of the streaming service Tubi and has been elected to Harvard University's Board of Overseers. She will serve a two-year term starting on 30 May 2025, stepping into the role left vacant by Mark Carney. Born in Detroit, Michigan, in 1983 to Punjabi immigrant parents, Anjali was raised in Flint. 39 yrs ago my parents tied the knot. Grateful to be with them during this pandemic. Happy anniversary you crazy kids ❤️ — Anjali Sud (@anjsud) April 27, 2020 She completed her undergraduate studies in finance and management at the University of Pennsylvania and earned her MBA from Harvard Business School in 2011. Anjali started her career with roles at Amazon, Time Warner, and in mergers and acquisitions. In 2012, she joined Vimeo as Vice President of Global Marketing. She later became Vimeo's CEO, guiding its shift into a software platform for video creators and leading its public listing in 2021. In 2023, Anjali took charge as CEO of Tubi, which has become one of the most popular free streaming platforms in the US, attracting close to 100 million monthly users. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD She is the CEO of the streaming service Tubi. Image: Instagram/Anjali Sud Outside her corporate work, she serves on the boards of Dolby Laboratories and (where she is chair). She also sits on the executive committee of Phillips Academy Andover's development board, working on financial aid efforts. She lives in New York City and is a mother of two. The Board of Overseers is one of Harvard's two main governing bodies, alongside the President and Fellows, also called the Corporation. Set up in 1642, the Board plays a key role in the university's leadership. One of its main responsibilities is overseeing the visitation process, which allows for regular external reviews of Harvard's schools and departments, according to the university's website. Anjali's appointment comes at a time when Harvard is facing pressure from the US government over policies related to international students and academic freedom. Who is Sanjay Seth? The Indian-American expert in climate and sustainability has been elected as one of the new directors of the Harvard Alumni Association (Haa). His three-year term will begin on 1 July 2025. The Harvard Alumni Association board works to strengthen alumni ties, build community, and support volunteer leadership across Harvard's global network of graduates. Seth will be part of this effort through his new role. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD Seth was born to Indian-origin parents in Australia and grew up in Bismarck, North Dakota. He has been elected as one of the new directors of the Harvard Alumni Association. Image: Harvard University He holds two master's degrees from Harvard: a Master's in Public Administration from the Kennedy School of Government and a Master's in Urban Planning from the Graduate School of Design, both completed in 2019. He earned his undergraduate degree at Goldsmiths, University of London. Seth's career has focused on climate policy, public service, and community organising. He worked as Chief of Staff and Senior Advisor for Climate and Equity at the US Environmental Protection Agency's New England office. Before that, he led climate resilience projects for the City of Boston and was involved in similar efforts in New York City. ALSO READ | Trump's crackdown on foreign students at US universities may hurt India and China the most. Here's why Seth also co-founded the Harvard Alumni for Climate and the Environment group and was a fellow with the Bloomberg Harvard City Leadership Initiative. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD As a student, he helped develop joint climate-focused courses across Harvard's schools and launched the Climate Leaders Programme, encouraging students from different fields to work together on environmental issues. Donald Trump vs Harvard University The appointments of the two Indian-origin individuals come at a time when Harvard University is caught in legal and political disputes with the Trump administration. The university is under pressure following demands to provide records of international students who were part of recent campus protests. After Harvard declined to comply, the Trump administration launched a move to revoke the university's certification to enrol foreign students. In a letter from acting Immigration and Customs Enforcement director Todd Lyons, the administration gave Harvard 30 days to respond to the allegations. These include claims that the university worked with foreign groups and did not do enough to address antisemitism on campus. On Thursday, a federal judge extended an order that temporarily blocks the Trump administration from stopping Harvard from enrolling international students. This dispute over international student enrolment marks the latest flashpoint in a growing conflict between the White House and the country's oldest and wealthiest university. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD More than 7,000 international students, visiting scholars, and alumni on post-graduate training programmes depend on Harvard for both sponsorship and legal status in the US.
