Court Denies Release of Mahmoud Khalil from Custody

• A federal court has denied the release of Palestinian activist Mahmoud Khalil, who has been in custody since March 2025.
• The court acknowledged that Khalil's detention is based on immigration charges, despite the absence of criminal accusations.
• His family and activists believe the arrest is politically motivated and are calling for his release.

This was reported by BBC, The Guardian.

The Situation with Mahmoud Khalil

A federal judge has denied the release of Palestinian activist Mahmoud Khalil, marking another setback for the former Columbia University student. Khalil, who holds a green card and is not facing any criminal charges, has been in custody since March 2025.

Earlier this week, Judge Michael Farbiarz ruled that the U.S. government cannot detain Khalil based on claims of posing a threat to American foreign policy, noting that such actions could be unconstitutional. However, on Friday, the court found that Khalil remains in custody due to other charges, including allegations of inaccuracies in his green card application.

Court and Government Arguments

The government's rationale for Khalil's detention is based on the assertion that he was an "alien who was inadmissible" at the time of his entry into the U.S. Judge Farbiarz noted that Khalil did not provide sufficient evidence to challenge the legality of his detention based on immigration charges.

Khalil's attorneys argue that his arrest is an act of retaliation for his activism in support of Palestinian rights. On Friday, the day the decision was made, a group of prominent parents recorded a video reading a letter from Khalil to his newborn son, calling for his release.

Family and Activist Reactions

Khalil's wife, Dr. Nour Abdallah, expressed her sorrow over the situation, stating that true justice would mean he was never detained. She shared that she will not stop until Mahmoud is released.

According to human rights advocates, the actions of the U.S. government represent an open suppression of student activism and political expression. President Donald Trump has previously stated that activists supporting Palestinians are linked to terrorist organizations such as Hamas.

Теги: США/Політика