Judge orders release of Columbia protester Mahmoud Khalil from US detention
A federal judge has ordered the release of Mahmoud Khalil, a former Columbia University graduate student, from immigration detention, the Associated Press (AP) reported on Friday.
Khalil has been held since early March as the Trump administration tried to deport him over his involvement in pro-Palestinian protests. He was the first student arrested under President Donald Trump's efforts to remove students who took part in campus protests against Israel's military action in Gaza.
US District Judge Michael Farbiarz announced his decision in a New Jersey court, AP said. The judge said Khalil should be freed after his lawyers asked either for his release on bail or for him to be moved from a Louisiana jail to New Jersey so he could be closer to his wife and newborn son.
'The government cannot continue to hold Mr Khalil on these grounds,' Judge Farbiarz said, according to AP.
The government argued that Khalil, a legal US resident, was being held because he allegedly lied on his green card application. Khalil denies this, saying he answered truthfully.
Khalil was detained on 8 March at his home in Manhattan. His lawyers say his arrest is part of an effort to limit free speech. AP said he is not accused of breaking any laws during the protests at Columbia.
Khalil, who was studying international affairs, acted as a spokesperson and negotiator for the student protesters. He was not among those arrested at the demonstrations, but his public role drew attention.
According to AP, US Secretary of State Marco Rubio has said Khalil's presence in the US could harm foreign policy. The Trump administration has said it wants to expel noncitizens who take part in such protests, claiming their views are antisemitic.
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