Federal Judge Halts Deportation of Columbia Student Mahmoud Khalil After ICE Detention and Green Card Revocation
On March 10, 2025, U.S. District Judge Jesse M. Furman issued an order temporarily blocking the deportation of Mahmoud Khalil, a Columbia University graduate student whose green card was recently revoked following his detention by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE). Khalil, a Palestinian-born individual, had been arrested by ICE on March 9, 2025, as part of an enforcement action tied to President Trump’s executive orders addressing national security and anti-Semitism.
The arrest followed statements from the Trump administration, including Senator Marco Rubio, who emphasized revoking visas or green cards of individuals deemed to support Hamas, a designated terrorist organization. ICE spokesperson McLaughlin stated, “Khalil led activities aligned with Hamas,” adding that the agency, in coordination with the Department of State, acted to enforce the president’s directives and protect national security.
Khalil, who is married to a U.S. citizen and expecting a child next month, was detained from his student housing on March 8, 2025. Shortly after his lawyers filed a habeas corpus petition challenging the legality of his detention, ICE transferred him from New York to a detention facility in Louisiana. His legal team, led by attorney Amy Greer, argued that the transfer—conducted without notifying his counsel—was an attempt to hinder the legal process and disrupt the court’s jurisdiction over his case.
In response, Judge Furman, citing the All Writs Act, ordered that Khalil “shall not be removed from the United States unless and until the Court orders otherwise.” The All Writs Act grants federal courts authority to issue writs necessary to preserve their jurisdiction. Khalil’s attorneys assert that his detention is retaliation for his activism, including leading anti-Israel protests at Columbia and Barnard College, which they claim is protected speech under the First Amendment. The government, however, maintains that his actions justify the revocation of his immigration status.
The case has sparked debate over the balance between national security measures and individual rights. Khalil’s legal team has also filed a motion to compel ICE to return him to New York, arguing that his transfer to Louisiana, over 1,000 miles away, complicates his defense.
