A federal judge in New Jersey has ordered the release of Mahmoud Khalil, a Palestinian activist and Columbia University graduate student detained since March for his involvement in pro-Palestinian protests.
The decision, issued on Friday by District Court Judge Michael Farbiarz, rejected a government motion to delay Khalil’s release, allowing him to leave a Louisiana detention facility.
Khalil’s case has drawn national attention, with advocates arguing his detention violated his First Amendment rights.
The U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) contested the ruling, asserting that immigration judges, not district courts, hold authority over such cases.
Khalil, who was not charged with any crime, emerged from detention to address reporters, expressing relief but highlighting the ordeal’s toll.
“Although justice prevailed, it’s very long overdue and this shouldn’t have taken three months,” he said.
His detention, based on a rarely used immigration law provision citing “potentially serious adverse foreign policy consequences,” separated him from his newborn son and wife, Noor Abdalla.
The American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU), supporting Khalil, celebrated the ruling as a defense of free speech.
Khalil’s case has become a flashpoint in debates over the treatment of pro-Palestinian activists under the Trump administration.
Critics argue the administration’s use of immigration law to detain students like Khalil and others, such as Rumeysa Ozturk and Mohsen Mahdawi, aims to suppress dissent.
The remote Louisiana facility, far from Khalil’s New York home, raised concerns about access to legal support and family.
As Khalil prepares to reunite with his family, his release underscores ongoing tensions between national security policies and constitutional protections.