Columbia student Mahmoud Khalil case: Federal judge orders release of pro-Palestinian activist; freed after three months in detention
A federal judge on Friday ordered the release of Mahmoud Khalil, a former Columbia University graduate student, from immigration detention after spending more than three months in custody.
Khalil was detained in early March as the Trump administration sought to deport him over his alleged involvement in pro-Palestinian protests on campus.
The decision was announced by US District Judge Michael Farbiarz in New Jersey, following a request from Khalil's legal team to grant him bail or relocate him from Louisiana to New Jersey to be near his wife and newborn child, according to the Associated Press.
Khalil's arrest marked the first under Trump's initiative against students involved in campus protests regarding Israel's military actions in Gaza.
His prominent role in Columbia's pro-Palestinian demonstrations last year led to protests in New York and Washington, DC.
US Secretary of State
Marco Rubio
has advocated for Khalil's expulsion, saying Khalil's activism poses 'potentially serious adverse foreign policy consequences for the United States.'
Judge Farbiarz had previously ruled that the government could not continue detaining Mahmoud Khalil based on his role in pro-Palestinian protests.
by Taboola
by Taboola
Sponsored Links
Sponsored Links
Promoted Links
Promoted Links
You May Like
Free P2,000 GCash eGift
UnionBank Credit Card
Apply Now
Undo
However, officials later argued that Khalil, a legal US resident, was being held for allegedly providing false information on his green card application — a claim Khalil firmly denies.
Khalil was arrested on March 8 at his Manhattan apartment in connection with his participation in the campus demonstrations.
Khalil says he did nothing wrong and did not hide anything on his green card application. He told the court he only did a university-approved internship with the United Nations Relief and Works Agency, and was not an officer, as the government claims.
Khalil was not arrested during the Columbia protests and has not been accused of any crimes. His public presence at the demonstrations drew attention from critics and the White House, which accused him of 'siding with terrorists' without providing evidence.
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Time of India
20 minutes ago
- Time of India
Refused Trump invite as I had to visit land of Jagannath: PM Modi
US President Donald Trump and Prime Minister Narendra Modi (File Image) BHUBANESWAR: PM Modi Friday said he had to say 'no' to US President Donald Trump's invitation to drop by in Washington on his way back from Canada, where he had gone for the G7 summit, as he did not want to miss his scheduled visit to the "land of Lord Jagannath", reports Ashok Pradhan. While Majhi's first anniversary as CM was on June 12, the Odisha govt timed the main celebration on Friday in sync with the PM's schedule. Any change in plan could have put the govt in an awkward position in a state where BJP swept the Lok Sabha polls, winning 20 of the 21 seats, and stormed into office by winning 78 of the 147 assembly seats. Speaking at a rally in Bhubaneswar to mark one year of Mohan Charan Majhi-led BJP govt in Odisha, PM Modi said, "The President of United States called me, saying, 'Since you are in Canada, please come over. We will have a meal together and talk.' I thanked him and politely declined, saying that visiting the land of Mahaprabhu (Lord Jagannath) was essential for me. The devotion for Mahaprabhu and your love drew me here." In what was Modi's sixth visit to the state in the past one year, the PM praised Odisha's progress under the BJP govt, emphasising the state's role in India's cultural and economic development. He highlighted initiatives aimed at improving infrastructure, healthcare, and economic opportunities for the people of Odisha, particularly tribal communities. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like 5 Books Warren Buffett Wants You to Read In 2025 Blinkist: Warren Buffett's Reading List Undo Attacking the previous Congress regimes, the PM said the party which governed India for decades had neglected the tribal community and "used them merely for political benefits". He said over 125 tribal-dominated districts were affected by Maoists for years. "Most of these districts were declared backward, and the then govts did not take the responsibility to develop them," Modi said. In contrast, the BJP-led govt freed tribal society from Naxal violence, ushering in development in these areas. The PM also highlighted the role of eastern India in the country's growth trajectory. "The development of 21st century India will gain momentum from eastern India. This is the era of Purvodaya."
Time of India
26 minutes ago
- Time of India
No reply from Azerbaijan, Kol prof heads to Armenia
1 2 Kolkata: After waiting for four days for the migration code from the Azerbaijan authorities, Falguni Dey, the geography professor from Kolkata who travelled 1,000 km from Tehran to reach Astara, will now have to head towards Armenia, where Indian nationals are being allowed to cross the border. Dey left Tehran on Sunday in a car and travelled for nearly 40 hours to reach Astara. While he escaped the war-ravaged Tehran along with thousands of Iranians and foreign nationals, he had applied for the e-visa with the Azerbaijan authorities. He initially planned to move to Baku after crossing the border and catch a flight to India from there. "Azerbaijan was allowing US and Russian nationals to cross the border via Astara. There was no bar for Indian nationals. I presumed they would allow Indians too and waited for their approval. But it seems that the permission has got stuck in diplomatic tangles," he said. On Friday, an exasperated Dey sounded helpless. "I needed a migration code for my e-visa application. Four days have passed since I applied. The Azerbaijan authorities have now said that they cannot commit any date for the migration code. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Free P2,000 GCash eGift UnionBank Credit Card Apply Now Undo There are a number of Indians stuck here. Today, when I spoke to the Indian embassy in Baku, they said that I should look for other avenues to leave Iran. Armenia is one of the choices. I could understand what they tried to say," Dey said. Dey is planning to look for a car to take him to the Nurduz-Agarak border in Iran and try to cross the border from the Armenian side only after he gets permission from Armenia. "I don't have any money. However, I will try to find a way out to reach the Nurduz-Agarak border. Internet services are suspended, and I cannot send or receive any document. My family members and friends are doing whatever they can," he said. On Thursday, Dey got help from a tourist who offered to share his room at a hotel, a few kilometres from the Astara border. Dey, who spent nights at mosques and govt office lobbies over the past couple of days, had the chance to sleep on a bed. "The days are getting long, and the wait seems endless. I am trying to adapt myself to the new reality. There isn't anything else I can do now," he said. On Thursday, Dey filed documents for the e-visa with the Armenian authorities. "The Nurduz-Agarak area in Iran is around 450 km from Astara. I don't have cash, and I am clueless about paying for a car to drive me there. But I have to take a chance and get out of Iran anyhow," he said.
Time of India
26 minutes ago
- Time of India
Clerk, colleague among 6 held for Rs 8 lakh robbery
Ghaziabad: Police arrested six persons after several gunfights in connection with the robbery of more than Rs 8 lakh from a cashier of an ice cream company in Kavi Nagar. Two of the accused were employees of the company, including the clerk who first reported the crime. On Monday, Amit Kumar was on his way to deposit Rs 8.15 lakh at a bank in Rajnagar for his company when he was allegedly approached and attacked by two assailants on a bike under the Nehru Nagar flyover. The accused threw chili powder in his eyes and threatened him with a weapon then fled with the bag of money. Kumar's employer filed a police complaint the same day and an FIR was registered under BNS section 309 (4) (robbery) against unknown persons. DCP (City) Dhawal Jaiswal said that Kavi Nagar police along with a SWAT team from the Crime Branch arrested Suraj Yadav (23), a resident of Lal Kuan, Nitin Kumar (20) of Hapur, and Manish Singh (24), a resident of Wave City, following a gunfight. Cops recovered Rs 4.3 lakh of the stolen money as well as three pistols with live and spent cartridges from their possession. Suraj and Nitin suffered gunshot injuries to their legs during the incident. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Mental Wellness Starts with a Simple Step Affordable Online Counseling | Search Ads Learn More Undo While being taken to the police station, Manish attempted to escape by snatching a pistol from a constable near the NDRF ground and firing shots, during which he was also injured in retaliatory police firing. Two other accused, Ankush alias Kale (20) of Masuri village and Brijesh Kumar (24) from Hapur, managed to escape, prompting a blockade and search operation. Later, they were both arrested by Madhuban Bapudham police near Bunkar Mart. Cops recovered Rs 1 lakh of the stolen money, illegal weapons, and the motorcycle used in the crime from their possession. The arrested accused told police during interrogation that the clerk, Amit Kumar, was also involved in the robbery, and cops subsequently arrested him as well. Accused Manish and Amit Kumar were cousins and both worked at the ice cream company. Amit had colluded with the other accused to steal the money he was supposed to deposit at the bank.
