ICE rejected Mahmoud Khalil's request to be detained closer to newborn son, emails show
After nearly three months in Immigration and Customs Enforcement detention, pro-Palestinian activist Mahmoud Khalil made a request to move closer to his family. ICE denied it last week, according to emails reviewed Wednesday by NBC News.
Khalil's legal team asked in late May that he be transferred to a detention center in New Jersey to be closer to his wife and newborn son. He has been held in a Louisiana ICE facility since March.
ICE's policy requires detaining noncitizen parents or legal guardians, who are primary caretakers or have custody of minor children, in facilities close to their children
The New Orleans ICE Field Office wrote that Khalil did not fall under the agency policy's criteria and denied the request without explanation, according to the emails.
'I am declining your request that Mr. Khalil be transferred from the Central Louisiana ICE Processing Center in Jena, Louisiana to a detention center in New Jersey,' an official wrote.
Nora Ahmed, legal director of the American Civil Liberties Union of Louisiana, which is part of Khalil's legal team, called the decision 'cruel.'
'ICE's directive recognizes that the government should have no role in destroying the family unit, and yet that is exactly what is happening here,' Ahmed said.
Neither ICE nor the Department of Homeland Security immediately responded to requests for comment on the emails.
Khalil's wife, Dr. Noor Abdalla, a Michigan-born dentist, gave birth to the couple's son in April. Citing the ICE policy, his legal team reached out to the New Orleans office in hope of getting him moved. The directive, issued in 2022, considers detained parents who have custody of their children as 'covered individuals' under the policy. It stipulates that covered individuals must be placed 'as close as practicable' to their minor children. It also requires ICE personnel to accommodate regular visitation between covered individuals and their minor children.
'There is no possible justification to detain Mr. Khalil at such a great distance from his minor child, in violation of ICE's own policy, when ICE maintains numerous detention facilities within driving distance of where Mr. Khalil's wife and infant son reside in New York City,' Khalil's counsel wrote in an email to the New Orleans ICE office.
In an email to Khalil's legal counsel, an official at the New Orleans ICE office said he did not qualify as a covered individual.
Khalil, who grew up in a Palestinian refugee camp in Syria and was granted permanent U.S. resident status last year, became a widely recognized activist amid the pro-Palestinian protests at Columbia University last year. In March, he was abruptly arrested outside his student housing on campus and detained before being the Trump administration accused him of leading 'activities aligned to Hamas, a designated terrorist organization.' He has not been charged with any crime.
ICE previously rejected Khalil's request to attend his son's birth, court documents show.
'The most immediate and visceral harms I have experienced directly relate to the birth of my son, Deen. Instead of holding my wife's hand in the delivery room, I was crouched on a detention center floor, whispering through a crackling phone line as she labored alone,' Khalil said in a legal filing last week.
Khalil met his son for the first time last month, his attorneys said, just before an immigration hearing.
This article was originally published on NBCNews.com
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Yahoo
29 minutes ago
- Yahoo
ICE raids at California farms condemned by unions, advocates
(NewsNation) — As the Trump administration continues its crackdown on immigrants who entered the United States illegally, immigration enforcement operations targeting workplaces have expanded to fruit and vegetable farms in several regions of California. Unions representing farmworkers report that Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents have conducted enforcement raids at farms throughout the state, targeting migrant workers who studies show have become the lifeblood of the nation's farming industry, which contributed more than $1 trillion to the U.S. gross domestic product in 2020. Farmworker union officials have called on President Donald Trump to intervene and halt farm raids immediately. However, Trump blamed the Biden administration's stance on immigration for infiltrating industries like farming with lawbreakers. Trump: Deportations are hurting farmers, 'changes are coming' Trump wrote on Truth Social that the nation's 'great farmers' and those working in the hotel and hospitality industry are now complaining about his administration's 'very aggressive policy on immigration' that is causing farms and hotels alike to lose 'very good and longtime workers.' 'This is not good,' Trump wrote. 'We must protect our Farmers but get the CRIMINALS OUT OF THE USA. Changes are coming!' The Department of Homeland Security has not confirmed that workplace immigration enforcement operations have specifically targeted California farms but acknowledged that such operations are ongoing. A DHS spokesperson told NewsNation that workplace enforcement efforts are meant to protect workers from exploitation and human trafficking. The agency said that many times, workers are trafficked into the U.S. and forced to work in unsafe conditions and are exploited by employers. 'These operations not only protect American workers but also illegal aliens,' the spokesperson said. 'President Trump will not allow criminals to abuse and exploit workers for profit.' The Center for Migration Studies reports that 86% of agricultural workers in the United States are foreign-born and that 45% of all migrant workers, roughly 283,000, are in the U.S. illegally. However, a large number of foreign-born farmworkers enter the U.S. under the H-2A Temporary Agricultural Worker Program, which allows immigrants to remain in the United States for up to eight months to help meet the labor needs of farms. The number of migrants here through that program more than doubled between 2010 and 2019, the Center for Migration Studies reported, jumping from 79,000 requests in 2010 to 258,000 in 2019. Democratic governors defend sanctuary policies before Congress One-third of the nation's farmworkers are located in California, according to the California Farm Bureau, which issued a statement of support for farm employees in the wake of reports of increased farm enforcement missions being conducted. The New York Times, citing federal data, reported that the Central Valley of California produces 25% of the nation's food supply, which is worth approximately $17 billion annually. Those production levels led the state farm bureau to surmise that without farmworkers, much of the operations involved in planting, cultivating and harvesting crops would not take place. But again, research conducted by the University of California, Merced shows that about half of California's 255,700 farmworkers are in the U.S. illegally. But to farm bureau officials, the immigration status of farmworkers does not limit their value to the state's farming landscape. 'Farm employees are not just workers—they are partners in this industry,' Bryan Little, the senior director of policy advocacy at the state farm bureau, said. 'They are people with families, dreams, and an incredible work ethic that keeps food on tables across America. We understand the uncertainty some might feel right now, and we want to be absolutely clear: California's farmers stand with you.' The United Farm Workers Union reports it is aware of multiple immigration enforcement operations targeting farmworkers in California this week alone. The union called efforts to 'terrorize and separate' farmworker communities an attack on California and a dangerous waste of resources. In one case, video footage published by a local ABC affiliate showed federal agents chasing migrant workers through a field during a workforce immigration enforcement raid in which dozens of workers were detained by federal agents. The organization also called on Trump to halt farm raids immediately and urged California lawmakers to act and seek transparency in the enforcement operations underway. It also called out Trump for characterizing many agricultural workers as those who have been charged or convicted of committing crimes. The raids are taking place as California and immigration have remained in the spotlight amid anti-ICE protests taking place in Los Angeles. However, union officials remain committed to protecting migrant workers in agriculture. ICE agents' locations in Los Angeles being outed by protesters 'These workers who feed us are not criminals,' the union said in a statement on Thursday in response to Trump's Truth Social post. 'Most have been here for decades. We need to protect the workers here from being hunted down in the fields. If President Trump is in charge, these raids against farms will stop immediately.' Last month, U.S. Reps. Dan Newhouse, R-Wash., and Zoe Lofgren, D-Calif., reintroduced the bipartisan Farm Workforce Modernization Act that is designed to reform the H-2A visa program, which would assist migrant workers in being more easily able to obtain visas to help fill agricultural jobs in the U.S. Yet as immigration crackdowns continue, advocates for the immigrant community said there are not enough resources for migrants to protect themselves from being targeted by federal agencies like ICE and Homeland Security. Kathleen Bush-Joseph, a policy analyst with the Migration Policy Institute, said that even though many immigrants are attempting to follow proper channels to work in the U.S., including in agricultural roles, they are fearful about ongoing federal immigration enforcement efforts. She said the needs of migrants requiring legal assistance with work authorization and visas far outweigh the resources being made available to them. 'I think this reflects the larger picture where Trump's moves not only affect only the unauthorized immigrant population but also people who do have visas, who are green-card holders, and we've seen reports of U.S. citizens being arrested,' she told NewsNation. 'So just the way that the system is set up doesn't address employers' needs, so they've turned to unauthorized immigrants, some of which is leading to some of these difficult situations.' Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Newsweek
32 minutes ago
- Newsweek
Judge Hands Gavin Newsom Control of National Guard in Blow to Trump
Based on facts, either observed and verified firsthand by the reporter, or reported and verified from knowledgeable sources. Newsweek AI is in beta. Translations may contain inaccuracies—please refer to the original content. U.S. District Judge Charles Breyer ruled against President Donald Trump on Thursday, handing control of the state's National Guard back to Democratic California Governor Gavin Newsom amid ongoing protests to Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) raids in Los Angeles. Newsweek reached out to the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) via email for comment. Why It Matters Trump has prioritized immigration control as a key pillar during his second administration. The president campaigned in 2024 on the promise of mass deportations and appointed Tom Homan as his administration's border czar to execute his agenda. Protests broke out on Friday in Los Angeles in reaction to numerous ICE raids in the area. Trump sent National Guard troops and U.S. Marines to Los Angeles, deeming they were necessary to help control the unrest over the weekend, against Newsom's wishes. What To Know In an order following an afternoon hearing, Breyer concluded that "Defendants are temporarily ENJOINED from deploying members of the California National Guard in Los Angeles. Defendants are DIRECTED to return control of the California National Guard to Governor Newsom." In the case, Trump is the defendant and Newsom is the plaintiff. This is a breaking news story that will be updated with additional information.
CBS News
an hour ago
- CBS News
L.A. curfew continues for third night as Marines prepare to deploy for more ICE operations
For the third consecutive night, downtown Los Angeles will be under curfew from 8 p.m. Thursday to 6 a.m. Friday, as ICE operations continue in Southern California. Mayor Karen Bass announced the extension and demanded the end of immigration operations during a Thursday afternoon news conference. Since Tuesday, the curfews appeared to tamp down on the clashes between law enforcement and protesters at night. "We have had to have a curfew in the city because we want to make sure that the downtown neighborhood and all the other neighborhoods are safe," she said. "But let me be very clear, we want peace to come to our city. The peace that we need to have happen needs to begin in Washington, and we need to stop the raids." She also denounced the federalization of about 2,100 National Guard soldiers and 700 Marines, claiming their presence in the city is unnecessary. "Having the military, soldiers who are trained to fight wars on foreign soil, here in our city, is not going to bring peace because, first and foremost, they are not needed," All that is going to do is provoke people and create, and addd to the sense of fear in this city. We know how to bring about peace, and peace begins with ICE leaving Los Angeles." Marine Corps battalion prepares for deployment The Marine Corps battalion deployed to Los Angeles has finished its training for the protests. It could be deployed by Friday, according to the Department of Defense. The 700 Marines, based at Twentynine Palms, a city about 140 miles east of L.A., will join the roughly 2,100 California National Guard soldiers protecting federal buildings and personnel during the ICE protests that started on June 6, the U.S. Northern Command said in a statement Wednesday night. The 2nd Battalion, 7th Marines, 1st Marine Division, started its mission orientation on Thursday and will join the National Guard soldiers shortly after they finish. Marines with 2nd Battalion, 7th Marines, 1st Marine Division finish hand-to-hand combat training ahead of their deployment to the Los Angeles protests. KCAL News The contingent of troops, named Task Force 51, will accompany "ICE on missions, but they are not a part of the operations. Title 10 forces do not do law enforcement functions. They protect; they don't participate," the U.S. Northern Command wrote. The task force will temporarily detain individuals and transfer custody to civilian law enforcement personnel, according to Northern Command. Title 10 of the United States Code allows the president to federalize the National Guard. However, the Posse Comitatus Act, a 19th-century law, bars the military from participating in civil law enforcement. The Insurrection Act, a rarely used law from the 19th century that "authorizes the president to deploy military forces inside the United States to suppress rebellion or domestic violence or to enforce the law in certain situations," can override Posse Comitatus, according to the Brennan Center for Justice. When asked if he would invoke the Insurrection Act on Tuesday Mr. Trump said: "If there's an insurrection, I would certainly invoke it. We'll see." Gov. Gavin Newsom and other local officials strongly oppose the move to federalize the California National Guard and deploy Marines to L.A. County. Newsom delivered a statewide address denouncing the Trump administration, calling the deployment of troops a "brazen abuse of power" that escalated the protests. On Thursday, a federal judge blocked the Trump administration from deploying members of the California National Guard to the city. Sen. Padilla removed during Secretary Noem's news conference Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem visited L.A. Thursday morning to provide an update on the immigration operations and protests in Southern California. Noem was describing what she called the "burdensome leadership" of California's governor and the mayor of Los Angeles, when Padilla interrupted and attempted to ask a question before being pushed from the room. He could be heard yelling, "I'm Sen. Alex Padilla and I have questions for the secretary," as he was escorted out of the room. Sen. Alex Padilla, Democrat from California, is removed from the room after interrupting a news conference with Department of Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem at the Wilshire Federal Building in Los Angeles on June 12, 2025. PATRICK T. FALLON/AFP via Getty Images "The Department of Homeland Security and the officers, agencies, departments and military personnel working on this operation will continue to sustain and increase our operations in this city. We are not going away," Noem said. "We are staying here to liberate the city from the socialist and the burdensome leadership that this governor and that this mayor have placed on this country and what they have tried to insert to this city." Padilla said he was in the Wilshire Federal Building in Westwood for a scheduled briefing when he went to listen to Noem's speech. Following the interruption and towards the end of the news conference, Noem defended Mr. Trump's deployment of the military. "The idea of bringing more, yeah, I would say the President has the right to utilize every authority that he has under the Constitution, to to utilize title 10 and to bring in military assets and National Guard units as needed, and he'll continue to assess that and use his prerogative to decide when it's necessary," she said. Prior to the federal judge's ruling, She added that officials are "pre-deploying assets" in Southern California and other areas, ahead of the weekend. "We are assessing this weekend's threat levels, not just here, but in cities across the country, and pre-deploying assets," Noem said. "We're using every tool that we have in our toolbox and pre-staging people, task forces, special swift response teams, people with specific gifts and talents that they can contribute to areas that we think they may be needed this weekend, so that we can prevent any kind of violence from being perpetuated."
