Federal Judge Orders Release of Mahmoud Khalil After Months of Detention
June 20, 2025 | Updated 2:12 p.m. ET
A federal judge on Friday ordered the release of Mahmoud Khalil on bail, bringing an end to his three-month detention in Louisiana. Khalil, a legal U.S. permanent resident and Columbia University graduate, had become the last high-profile pro-Palestinian protester still in custody in the U.S.
Judge Michael E. Farbiarz of the Federal District Court in Newark said during the two-hour hearing that he found credible evidence that Khalil’s detention may have been unlawful retaliation for his political speech.
“There is at least something to the underlying claim that there is an effort to use the immigration charge here to punish Mr. Khalil,” Judge Farbiarz said. “And of course, that would be unconstitutional.”
đ A Student Activist Detained
Khalil had gained national attention for leading pro-Palestinian demonstrations at Columbia University. Despite having no criminal charges against him, he was held under a rarely used immigration law that permits deportation of individuals seen as opposing U.S. foreign policy objectives.
The Trump administration, led by Secretary of State Marco Rubio, accused Khalil of promoting antisemitism and allegedly supporting Hamas — though no direct evidence has been made public.
Khalil has denied the accusations. His attorneys point to statements he made publicly, including one on CNN where he said:
“The liberation of the Palestinian people and the Jewish people are intertwined... you cannot achieve one without the other.”
đ️ Legal and Political Ramifications
Judge Farbiarz had previously ruled that the immigration law cited in Khalil’s case did not justify his detention. On Friday, he found that the remaining administrative allegations, such as errors in Khalil’s citizenship paperwork, were also insufficient grounds to keep him jailed.
The ruling means Khalil may return to New York and reunite with his U.S. citizen wife and infant son, even as the administration continues efforts to deport him.
⚖️ Broader Context: Campus Crackdown
Khalil’s case is part of a broader federal crackdown on student protesters and international students accused of political dissent. Several other students with similar backgrounds were released in recent weeks, but Khalil remained in detention — a fact his lawyers argue points to political targeting.
They maintain that his arrest was motivated not by immigration issues but by his pro-Palestinian speech, which has drawn criticism and allegations from government officials.
đ What’s Next?
Though freed from detention, Khalil still faces the possibility of deportation. His legal team is expected to challenge those proceedings as well.
This case underscores growing tensions over speech, activism, and immigration law in the post-2024 political landscape.
This is a developing story and will be updated.
