New York Judge Blocks the Deportation of Mahmoud Khalil

Description: U.S. District Judge Jesse M. Furman blocked the deportation of Mahmoud Khalil over legal concerns about his transfer to a Louisiana detention center.

Date: March 17, 2025

Photo Credit: Ben Levin

Last Wednesday U.S. District Judge Jesse M. Furman presided over a hearing regarding the deportation of Muhamoud Khalil, the former Columbia graduate student and pro-Palestinian activist who was arrested by ICE the prior Saturday.

Judge Furman blocked the intended deportation of Khalil over concerns about his transfer to a detention facility in Louisiana. The transfer may have been unlawful due to Khalil’s lawyer filing a challenge against his arrest.

A press conference was held at the steps leading to Thurgood Marshall United States Courthouse in Manhattan following the hearing. Khalil's lawyer, Ramzi Kassem, told reporters last Wednesday: “He was taken by US government agents in retaliation, essentially, for exercising his First Amendment rights, for speaking up in defense of Palestinians in Gaza and beyond, for being critical of the US government and of the Israeli government. . .”

Photo Credit: Ben Levin

Adjacent to the crowd, thousands of protesters gathered demanding the release of Mahmoud Khalil. Chanting “free Mahmoud Khalil now” and holding signs which read “Release Mahmoud Khalil”.

The press conference and its surroundings were barricaded by police. A sole counter protester was present. Carrying a Trump flag and wearing a hat with a Puerto Rican flag, he repeatedly attempted to disrupt the press conference by yelling  “send him back” and “viva Trump”.