Immigration officials and legal experts closely watch the high-stakes deportation case of Palestinian activist and Columbia graduate Mahmoud Khalil.
According to the New York Post, U.S. District Judge Michael Farbiarz denied the Trump administration's request to transfer Khalil's case from New Jersey to Louisiana, where the defendant is currently held in an ICE detention facility.
The ruling enables Khalil's legal team to maintain their defense strategy in New Jersey, where he was initially detained when his attorneys filed their legal challenge. Judge Farbiarz issued a comprehensive 67-page decision, emphasizing that New Jersey holds exclusive jurisdiction over the case since it was the location of Khalil's original detention.
The Trump administration seeks to deport Khalil, a 30-year-old Syrian native of Palestinian descent and Algerian citizen, following his involvement in anti-Israel demonstrations at Columbia-affiliated Barnard College. Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents arrested him on March 8 at his university-owned apartment.
Federal authorities claim Khalil concealed his connections to the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees (UNRWA) on his green card application. The agency recently lost substantial U.S. funding after allegations surfaced that some members participated in the October 7 terror attacks.
Defense attorney Baher Azmy expressed his team's response to the ruling:
We are grateful the court wisely understood that the government cannot try to manipulate the jurisdiction of the United States courts in a transparent attempt to shield their unconstitutional – and frankly chilling – behavior. We look forward to the next phase of this case, which is to get Mahmoud out of detention and into the arms of his family, and then to prove the Trump administration's attempted deportation of Mahmoud and others is nothing but unconstitutional retaliation for protected speech.
Khalil served as spokesperson for Columbia Apartheid United Divest, an anti-Israel organization responsible for organizing protests at the Ivy League institution. The group gained notoriety for leading a turbulent occupation of Columbia's Hamilton Hall last April.
His arrest and subsequent transfer to Louisiana have sparked debate about the treatment of activists and the boundaries of protected speech. Critics argue the administration's actions represent a targeted response to political dissent.
The case has drawn additional attention due to Khalil's personal circumstances. His American wife expects their child within the next month, adding humanitarian concerns to the legal proceedings.
Judge Farbiarz's ruling clearly articulated the jurisdictional requirements, stating that the case could only proceed in New Jersey. His decision noted that the other 93 districts were not viable options since Khalil had no presence in those locations.
The decision does not guarantee Khalil's transfer from the Jena detention facility. However, it provides his legal team the opportunity to argue for his release in a jurisdiction they consider more favorable to their case.
Legal experts suggest this ruling could influence similar cases involving detained activists and immigration proceedings. The precedent may affect how authorities handle future attempts to transfer jurisdiction in politically sensitive cases.
Mahmoud Khalil faces deportation proceedings following his March 8 arrest by ICE agents at Columbia University. The Trump administration cites his alleged undisclosed ties to UNRWA and his role in campus protests as grounds for deportation. The case will continue in New Jersey, where Judge Farbiarz maintains jurisdiction over the proceedings. Khalil's legal team prepares to challenge his detention and fight the administration's deportation efforts, while his wife awaits the birth of their child.
