Judge halts effort to deport Columbia protest leader, sets Wednesday hearing

A federal judge on Monday scheduled a Wednesday court hearing for Mahmoud Khalil, a recent Columbia University graduate who was arrested by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), forbidding the government from moving forward with deportation efforts before then.
Lawyers for Khalil, a green card holder and leading pro-Palestinian demonstrator whose arrest was cheered by President Trump, have also filed a motion seeking his return to New York.
"To preserve the Court’s jurisdiction pending a ruling on the petition, Petitioner shall not be removed from the United States unless and until the Court orders otherwise," U.S. District Judge Jesse M. Furman, an appointee of former President Obama, said in his order.
Khalil’s attorney, Amy Greer, said in a statement to The Hill that it hadn't been immediately clear where ICE took Khalil. His team had originally thought he was New Jersey, but reports, including from The New York Times, indicated he had been taken to Louisiana.
Trump and his administration celebrated Khalil's detention Monday and said more foreign students that were involved in the pro-Palestinian protests will be arrested.
“ICE proudly apprehended and detained Mahmoud Khalil, a Radical Foreign Pro-Hamas Student on the campus of Columbia University. This is the first arrest of many to come. We know there are more students at Columbia and other Universities across the Country who have engaged in pro-terrorist, anti-Semitic, anti-American activity, and the Trump Administration will not tolerate it,” the president said on social media.
Since Khalil holds a green card, only an immigration judge would be able to revoke his status.
Thousands of people have signed a petition for his release, and First Amendment advocates suspect his detention is unconstitutional, although few details are known for why Khalil was targeted besides his involvement in Columbia’s protest.
Khalil is reportedly married to a U.S. citizen who is eight months pregnant.
Updated at 6:17 p.m. EDT
-
Protests grow over Columbia University pro-Palestinian activist's arrest
A judge is slamming the brakes on the Trump administration's attempt to deport a pro-Palestinian activist who helped lead Columbia University's 2024 student encampment protests.CBS News - 9m -
Federal judge blocks deportation of Palestinian activist Mahmoud Khalil
A federal judge has blocked the deportation of a Palestinian activist and Columbia University graduate whom federal immigration agents arrested in New York on Saturday. Mahmoud Khalil, who helped ...CBS News - 43m -
Palestinian activist who led student protests at Columbia faces deportation
Over the weekend, Columbia University grad Mahmoud Khalil was arrested and is facing deportation. He is a green card holder, but the Trump administration says the arrest stems from his involvement ...CBS News - 47m -
Rubio confirms ICE arrest of pro-Palestinian Columbia student protest leader
Secretary of State Marco Rubio has confirmed the arrest of Mahmoud Khalil, a green card-holding Columbia University graduate student and pro-Palestinian activist, by U.S. Immigration and Customs ...The Hill - 10h -
Ice arrests Palestinian activist who helped lead Columbia protests, lawyer says
Mahmoud Khalil’s arrest comes as Trump vows to deport foreign students involved in protests against Israel’s war. A prominent Palestinian activist who helped lead Columbia University’s student ...The Guardian - 1d -
Judge says Palestinian activist Mahmoud Khalil cannot be removed from U.S. as protesters call for his release
As hundreds of demonstrators rallied in New York City on Monday to demand the release of Mahmoud Khalil, a federal judge just steps away blocked the Palestinian activist and Columbia University ...NBC News - 11h -
Ann Coulter questions arrest of Columbia protester on free speech grounds
Conservative media pundit Ann Coulter on Monday questioned the arrest of a pro-Palestinian advocate on free speech grounds. "There's almost no one I don't want to deport, but unless they've ...The Hill - 1h -
Panama Will Release Migrants From Detention Camp, Challenging Trump’s Deportation Efforts
More than 100 people deported by the United States have been held in a remote camp for weeks. Their release could pose a challenge to President Trump’s deportation efforts.The New York Times - 3d -
3/10: CBS Evening News Plus
Palestinian activist who led student protests at Columbia faces deportation; Reporter Notebook: What does curiosity sound like?CBS News - 35m
More from The Hill
-
Judge orders release of certain owed foreign aid payments
A federal judge on Monday ordered the Trump administration to release foreign aid payments owed under certain existing contracts but stopped short of staving off mass contract cancellations that ...The Hill - 1h -
NPS leaders plan 30 percent payroll cuts
Click for more from The Hill. {beacon} Energy & Environment Energy & Environment First in The Hill NPS leaders plan 30 percent payroll cuts The Trump administration is eyeing major payroll ...The Hill - 1h -
Computer owners duped in antivirus scam to get over $25M: What to know about payments
More than $25 million in payments will go out this week to customers who were tricked into paying for fraudulent tech support offered by two companies.The Hill - 1h -
Ann Coulter questions arrest of Columbia protester on free speech grounds
Conservative media pundit Ann Coulter on Monday questioned the arrest of a pro-Palestinian advocate on free speech grounds. "There's almost no one I don't want to deport, but unless they've ...The Hill - 1h -
Climate change could be threatening satellites as they orbit in space: Study
The ongoing surge of greenhouse gas emissions in the near-Earth environment could cause dramatic declines in the number of satellites orbiting the planet by the end of the century, a new study has ...The Hill - 1h
More in Politics
-
Congress faces Friday deadline to fund the government. Here's what to know
Congress is staring down a deadline to fund the government by the end of the week, as the familiar threat of a shutdown looms over Washington.CBS News - 42m -
Trump considers four bids to buy TikTok as deadline for deal looms
President Donald Trump is considering four bids to purchase the social media app TikTok. NBC News’ Steve Romo reports on who the potential buyers could be ahead of the pause on TikTok set to expire.NBC News - 42m -
Judge orders release of certain owed foreign aid payments
A federal judge on Monday ordered the Trump administration to release foreign aid payments owed under certain existing contracts but stopped short of staving off mass contract cancellations that ...The Hill - 1h -
NPS leaders plan 30 percent payroll cuts
Click for more from The Hill. {beacon} Energy & Environment Energy & Environment First in The Hill NPS leaders plan 30 percent payroll cuts The Trump administration is eyeing major payroll ...The Hill - 1h -
Democrats offer short-term alternative to House GOP spending patch
Politico - 1h