Mahmoud Khalil, a Syrian-born Palestinian and legal U.S. resident, faced a hearing regarding his potential deportation in U.S. District Court in Newark. The Trump administration argued that Khalil’s presence in the country could have “adverse foreign policy consequences,” leading to efforts to deport him under the 1952 Immigration and Nationality Act. Despite not being accused of a crime, the administration claimed his actions, including participation in pro-Palestinian protests, threatened the safety of Jewish students on campus. Khalil’s attorneys argued that his activities were protected by free speech guarantees in the U.S. Constitution.
A U.S. immigration judge in Louisiana ruled in favor of the Trump administration’s deportation efforts, but legal battles are ongoing, including a lawsuit in New Jersey where Khalil was briefly detained. The judge in Louisiana cited a previous decision by U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio as the basis for allowing Khalil’s deportation process to continue. Khalil’s attorneys were given until April 23 to seek a waiver to stop the deportation.
Khalil addressed the court at the hearing, expressing concern about the lack of due process and fairness in his case. His lawsuit challenges the constitutionality of his detention and deportation, arguing that his rights to free speech and due process were violated. The Trump administration’s actions against Khalil are part of a broader effort to remove critics of Israel’s military actions, particularly in response to protests against Israel’s operations in Gaza. Protesters have criticized the administration’s move to target Khalil and other activists, alleging violations of their constitutional rights.
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