Mahmoud Khalil, the Columbia University graduate detained for 104 days over his pro-Palestinian activism, returned to New York on Saturday vowing to resume his advocacy despite ongoing deportation efforts by the Trump administration. Greeted by cheers and ululations at Newark Airport, Khalil embraced his U.S.-citizen wife and met his newborn son for only the second time since the child’s birth during his imprisonment. Representative Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-NY) joined supporters at the emotional reunion, condemning Khalil’s detention as "persecution based on political speech" and "an affront to every American".
Holding a bouquet and draped in a Palestinian keffiyeh, Khalil declared: "Not only if they threaten me with detention—even if they would kill me, I would still speak up for Palestine." He emphasized his activism for Palestinian rights constitutes protected speech that "should be celebrated rather than punished." Born in a Syrian refugee camp and a lawful U.S. permanent resident since 2024, Khalil became the first target of Trump’s crackdown on pro-Palestinian student protesters when ICE agents arrested him without charges on March 8 at his Columbia apartment.
Khalil’s release followed a landmark ruling by U.S. District Judge Michael Farbiarz, who on Friday ordered immediate bail, citing "extraordinary circumstances" and unconstitutional punishment. Farbiarz noted the government presented no evidence Khalil posed a flight risk or public danger, calling his prolonged detention "highly unusual." The decision overruled a Louisiana immigration judge’s deportation order issued hours earlier, which had relied solely on Secretary of State Marco Rubio’s assertion that Khalil’s activism harmed U.S. foreign policy.
The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) denounced Farbiarz as a "rogue district judge," insisting immigration courts alone hold detention authority. DHS continues pursuing deportation based on allegations Khalil omitted employment details on his green card application—claims his lawyers call "spurious". White House spokesperson Abigail Jackson asserted Khalil engaged in "conduct detrimental to American foreign policy interests," while DHS Secretary Kristi Noem accused him without evidence of "supporting terrorists".
Khalil’s case spotlights the administration’s use of a rare Cold War-era law to target activists. Federal courts have released all other students detained under this policy, including Tufts University’s Rumeysa Öztürk, arrested after co-authoring a Gaza divestment op-ed. ACLU attorney Noor Zafar emphasized the precedent: "The government cannot abuse immigration law to punish disfavored speech". Despite bail conditions restricting travel and requiring passport surrender, Khalil plans to attend rallies and lobby Congress.
Khalil missed his son’s birth, first Father’s Day, and Columbia graduation while jailed 1,300 miles from family in Louisiana’s Jena detention center. His wife, Noor Abdalla, stated the release "doesn’t begin to address the injustices" but allows their family reunion. Khalil dedicated his freedom to detained immigrants, condemning ICE’s efforts to "dehumanize everyone".
Khalil will appeal the deportation order through the Board of Immigration Appeals while challenging his detention’s constitutionality in federal court. The Trump administration has appealed Farbiarz’s bail ruling to the Third Circuit.