Student negotiator Mahmoud Khalil on the Columbia University campus in New York at a pro-Palestinian protest encampment on Monday, April 29, 2024.
Ted Shaffrey/AP
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Ted Shaffrey/AP
Mahmoud Khalil’s federal custody will continue as a federal judge accepted the government’s revised justifications for detaining him at an immigration facility in rural Louisiana.
Khalil’s release was delayed after a new charge of fraud on his 2024 green card application was added by ICE agents, in addition to the original justification of his pro-Palestinian activism threatening U.S. foreign policy goals.
The government’s decision to detain Khalil on the fraud charge was deemed lawful by the judge, leading to disappointment for Khalil and his legal team.
Accusations of aligning with Hamas and promoting antisemitism were made against Khalil by top officials, but no evidence was provided by the government.
The immigration judge is currently evaluating the evidence for the fraud charge, which could impact Khalil’s release.
Khalil’s lawyers criticized the Trump administration for adding the fraud charge as a pretext for deportation if the activism-related expulsion was deemed unconstitutional.
Khalil now has the option to request release on bail from the immigration judge in Louisiana as his detention continues.
