A Louisiana immigration judge has ordered Palestinian activist Mahmoud Khalil, who came to the United States in 2022 on a student visa, to be deported to Syria or Algeria after he failed to disclose certain information on his green card application, Newsweek reported. The 30-year-old is a lawful permanent resident of the United States.
According to a report by Newsweek citing documents filed in federal court on Wednesday, September 17, Khalil’s lawyers intend to appeal the deportation order, but they have expressed concern that the appeals process will likely be swift and unfavorable, as the case becomes a test of how far the Donald Trump administration can push immigration law in pursuit of its foreign policy and homeland security agenda.
Khalil’s lawyers argue that he is being punished for his Palestinian rights activism, while the Trump administration is citing his removal as a national security issue and the result of a paperwork violation.
What To Know
Khalil, a Palestinian originally from Syria, an activist, and a former graduate student at Columbia University, was arrested by US Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents at his home in Manhattan on March 8.
Shortly after his arrest, federal officials transferred him to the LaSalle Detention Center in Louisiana and held him there under a provision of immigration law that allows for removal if Secretary of State Marco Rubio determines that a noncitizen’s presence “would compromise a compelling foreign policy interest.” Rubio made the decision earlier this year, citing Khalil’s support.
According to Newsweek, on June 11, US District Judge Michael Farbiarz stayed the 30-year-old’s removal based on these reasons, as Khalil would likely succeed in arguing that the order was unconstitutional retaliation. On June 20, Farbiarz ordered Khalil’s release, concluding that he was not a flight risk or a danger to the community.
Also Read: Over 100,000 Join Massive Far-Right Rally in London as Deadly Clashes Unfold
Then on March 24, federal officials under the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) filed an alternative lawsuit against Khalil, alleging that he failed to disclose employment and organizational affiliations on his green card application.
On September 12, US Immigration Judge Jamee Comans ordered Khalil to be removed to Syria or Algeria, saying he had willfully misrepresented material facts on his green card application. In the same ruling, the judge denied his requests for a hearing, an extension of time and a routine change of venue to New York, where he resides.