A North -American Judge has ruled Trump Administration can deport Mahmoud Khalil, a graduate from Columbia University, detained his role last month in pro-palestinian protests.
Khalil, a permanent United States legal resident, has not been charged with a crime. In a letter written from the installation, he said that his « arrest was a direct consequence » of speaking for Palestinian rights.
The Government has cited an immigration law of the Cold War, which stated that its presence in the United States was adverse to the interests of American foreign policy.
The ruling of the Immigration Court does not mean that Mr. Khalil would be immediately withdrawn from the country. The judge gave his lawyers until April 23 to resort to the order.
The activist has been detained at a Louisiana detention center since March 8, when immigration agents told him he was deported to participate in protests against the war in Gaza.
The 30 -year -old was a prominent voice in the protests of Columbia University against the war in Gaza last year.
The Trump administration has cited a 1952 law that allows the government to order someone deported if its presence in the country could have unfavorable consequences for North -American foreign policy.
The judge said that the Trump administration allowed him to move forward with his efforts to deport Mr. Khalil because the argument that raises « adverse consequences of foreign policy » for the United States is « facially reasonable ».
Mr. Khalil, who was silent, went to court after the sentence.
« I would like to cite what you said the last time there is nothing more important for this court than process rights and fundamental equity, » Khalil said in court.
« Clearly what we have witnessed today, none of these principles has been present today or in this whole process, » he said. « That is why the Trump administration sent me to this court at 1,000 miles from my family. »
The American Union of Civil Liberties (ACLU) described the decision as « pre -written ».
The rights group said that the ruling reached less than 48 hours after the United States government « handed over the » evidence « to Mr. Khalil, who included nothing but a letter from the Secretary of State Marco Rubio, who made it clear that Mr. Khalil had not committed a crime and was exclusively directed based on his speech. »
The Government, in particular Rubio, has said that his efforts to deport Mr. Khalil also had to « protect Jew students from harassment and violence in the United States » even if their activities were « otherwise lawful ». They have not done
The Secretary of the National Security Department, Kristi Noem, praised the judge’s ruling on Friday.
« It is a privilege that is granted a visa or green card to live and study in the United States of America, » he wrote on social media. « When you defend violence, glorify and support terrorists who enjoy the slaughter of the North -Americans and besiege the Jews, this privilege should be revoked and you should not be in this country. Good misfortune. »
Mr. Khalil’s legal team repeatedly said that anti -Semitism tests have not been presented.
His lawyer, Marc Van der Hout, condemned the decision and said that his team would fight for « Mr. Khalil’s right to speak against what is happening in the United States. »
The legal team also said that they were expecting more audiences in the case.
« Today he was historic in his injustice, » said Johnny Sinodis, another member of Mr. Khalil’s legal team during a press conference.
Khalil has also filed a federal lawsuit in New Jersey by challenging his arrest as unconstitutional. His lawyers have said that the result of this case could block their deportation if they win.
The Trump administration has stated separately that the student committed immigration fraud by not disseminating some information on his green card application.
This includes working for the British embassy in Beirut and the United Nations Agency for Palestinian migrants and refugees. But the government has not presented any new evidence related to this.
In a statement, Taylor Rogers, Secretary of the White House, said that the Trump administration is « committed to applying our immigration laws and that quick actions to eliminate aliens representing serious consequences of adverse foreign policy for the United States. »
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