Federal government outlines its basis to deport Mahmoud Khalil in new memo
The memo says the Palestinian activist and Columbia University graduate is deportable because of his 'beliefs, statements or associations' that would compromise US foreign policy interests. It was submitted in response to a request from an immigration judge for evidence to support the deportation case.
The administration previously said it based its deportation order for Khalil on an obscure provision from the Immigration and Nationality Act – which provides broad authority to the Secretary of State to revoke a person's immigration status if their 'activities in the United States would have potentially serious adverse foreign policy consequences' to the country.
'For cases in which the basis for this determination is the alien's past, current, or expected beliefs, statements, or associations that are otherwise lawful, the Secretary of State must personally determine that the alien's presence or activities would compromise a compelling U.S. foreign policy interest,' the memo from the secretary reads.
The secretary made his determination 'based on information provided by the DHS/ICE/HSI regarding the participation and roles of (redacted) and Khalil in antisemitic protests and disruptive activities, which fosters a hostile environment for Jewish students in the United States,' Rubio states.
The actions and continued presence of Khalil in the US 'undermine U.S. policy to combat anti- Semitism around the world and in the United States, in addition to efforts to protect Jewish students from harassment and violence in the United States,' the memo continues.
The memo contains no allegations of criminal activity.
Assistant Chief Immigration Judge Jamee Comans ordered the federal government to turn over evidence supporting its order to remove Khalil, a legal permanent resident, from the US by Wednesday evening or she would move to terminate the case, according to Khalil's lawyers.
Khalil's lawyers told CNN they do not expect the federal government to provide additional evidence to fulfill the judge's request.
This is a developing story and will be updated.
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