Judge Orders Former Columbia Student Mahmoud Khalil Deported to Syria or Algeria
A US immigration judge has ordered Mahmoud Khalil, a former Columbia University student and Palestinian activist, to be deported to either Syria or Algeria.
Khalil, 30, was accused of failing to disclose details on his green card application. His lawyers revealed the ruling in federal court filings on Wednesday.
He was first arrested in New York on 8 March and later held at a detention centre in Louisiana. During his three months in custody, he completed coursework for a master’s degree while missing the birth of his first child.
His detention triggered widespread protests in New York City. In June, a Biden-appointed judge blocked his deportation on foreign policy grounds and ruled he was not a flight risk, allowing him to return home to his wife and newborn son.
Khalil has accused the Trump administration of using “fascist tactics” to silence Palestinian voices opposing US support for Israel. Officials previously alleged he led activities “aligned to Hamas,” though no evidence was presented in the latest filings.
A separate case in New Jersey federal court has temporarily blocked his removal while judges consider whether his detention and deportation are acts of retaliation for his activism.
