An immigration judge in New Orleans has ordered the deportation of Mahmoud Khalil, a legal permanent resident and pro-Palestinian activist, to either Syria or Algeria. This ruling, made public in court documents, cites allegations that Khalil failed to disclose critical information on his green card application.
Khalil’s legal team has announced plans to appeal the ruling but cautioned that the process could move quickly and may not yield favorable outcomes. They emphasized that an earlier ruling from a federal judge in New Jersey is currently preventing Khalil’s removal while the courts review his habeas corpus case.
The deportation order, issued by Immigration Judge Jamee Comans on September 12, appears to contradict a prior decision from U.S. District Judge Michael Farbiarz. Farbiarz had blocked Khalil’s deportation, claiming that he was being unlawfully targeted for his advocacy of Palestinian issues.
Born in Syria and educated at Columbia University, Khalil was detained at his New York City home in March. Since his arrest, he has not faced criminal charges. His case has drawn considerable attention and debate, particularly regarding the implications for freedom of speech and political dissent in the U.S.
Khalil’s attorneys indicate that they have 30 days to file an appeal with the Board of Immigration Appeals but also noted that further appeals to the 5th Circuit Court of Appeals may be challenging. They stated that the primary factor that could prevent Khalil’s removal is the ongoing federal habeas case.
In a recent statement, Khalil criticized the actions of the Trump administration, alleging that the deportation order is a form of retaliation against him for exercising his right to free speech. He described the immigration court’s proceedings as unfair and indicative of a broader pattern of political targeting.
Following his arrest, Khalil spent over three months in detention in Louisiana. His case became contentious when the administration invoked an unusual immigration provision that allows for deportation if the Secretary of State deems a noncitizen’s presence detrimental to U.S. foreign policy. However, Judge Farbiarz intervened in June, ruling that Khalil posed neither a flight risk nor a danger to society and ordered his release.
Khalil’s situation raises important questions about the intersection of immigration enforcement and political expression, as his advocates claim that his detention and potential deportation are part of a larger trend of targeting individuals based on their political views.
This ongoing legal battle is being closely monitored by immigration and civil rights advocates, as it could set significant precedents regarding the protection of political speech in the realm of immigration law.
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