Columbia University activist Mahmoud Khalil has emerged from over three months of immigration detention, asserting that the Trump administration's attempts to suppress pro-Palestinian voices are ineffective. "My existence is a message" to the administration, he stated upon his release in New Jersey, following a detention stint in Louisiana. Khalil, a vocal participant in last year’s pro-Palestinian protests at his university, claimed that his arrest on March 8 catalyzed demonstrations in New York and Washington, D.C.
The U.S. government is seeking to deport Khalil, stating that his activism undermines foreign policy interests. At a Newark airport press conference, Khalil expressed his intent to continue advocating for Palestinian rights and the rights of other immigrants. He accused the White House of dehumanizing dissenters and highlighted his recent fatherhood, as he left the event with his newborn son and supportive flowers.
Congresswoman Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez joined Khalil, remarking that his release signifies the administration's dwindling chances in legal battles over deporting activists. Reflecting on similar cases, she mentioned Tufts University student Rumeysa Ozturk, who was also recently released after detention related to her Palestinian rights critique.
A local judge mandated Khalil's release, deeming him neither a flight risk nor a community threat while his immigration case proceeds. However, the Trump administration is planning to appeal this decision. White House spokesperson Abigail Jackson criticized the ruling, asserting that the judge lacked jurisdiction to intervene in Khalil's case. "We expect to be vindicated on appeal," she stated, underscoring ongoing tensions related to activism and immigration policy.
