A Louisiana immigration judge has determined that the government can move forward with its efforts to deport Mahmoud Khalil in a ruling that advocates argue carries significant weight for free speech rights in the country.
In a hearing held on Friday afternoon, Judge Jamee Comans ruled that sufficient grounds exist for the administration’s case against Khalil, a Palestinian student activist.
Khalil’s legal team now has until April 23, 2025, to appeal this decision.
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The deportation effort, initiated under the Trump administration, centers on arguments that Khalil’s continued presence in the U.S. could lead to “potentially serious adverse foreign policy consequences,” invoking a provision within immigration law.
Furthermore, the government alleges that Khalil failed to disclose prior employment at the Syria Office in the British Embassy in Beirut and his membership in the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees (UNRWA) during his application process for permanent residency.
Adding complexity to the case, the administration submitted a memo to the court this past Wednesday purportedly from Secretary of State Marco Rubio.
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The memo cited Khalil’s “past, current, or expected beliefs, statements, or associations” as justification for deportation, asserting that allowing him to remain would contribute to a “hostile environment for Jewish students in the United States.”
The judge’s ruling allows the deportation proceedings to continue, setting the stage for a potential appeal that will be closely watched by civil rights organizations concerned about the intersection of immigration law and First Amendment protections.
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