🇺🇸 Palestinian Activist Mahmoud Khalil Reunites with Family After 104 Days in ICE Detention

Newark, New Jersey | June 21, 2025 — After more than three months in U.S. immigration detention, Palestinian rights advocate and Columbia University graduate Mahmoud Khalil has finally returned home to his family, marking a major turn in a case that sparked nationwide protests and debate over free speech and political persecution under the Trump administration.

Khalil, a legal U.S. resident, arrived at Newark Liberty International Airport on Saturday, greeted by a crowd of cheering supporters. Flanked by his wife, Noor Abdalla, and New York Congresswoman Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, Khalil pushed his infant son in a stroller through airport security with a keffiyeh draped over his shoulders and his fist raised in defiance.

“Even if they threaten me with detention or death, I will continue to speak out for Palestine,” Khalil told reporters during a brief press conference. “This speech should be protected, not punished.”

Khalil was detained by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) in early March, shortly after voicing criticism of Israel’s war in Gaza and his university’s financial links to companies supporting Israeli military actions. His arrest and prolonged detention — despite no criminal charges — drew condemnation from human rights organizations and free speech advocates.

A federal judge ordered his release on Friday, ruling that Khalil posed no danger to the public or flight risk. The court further found that detaining someone over a civil immigration matter violated constitutional protections.

“He is not a danger to the community. Period. Full stop,” stated Judge Michael Farbiarz of Newark.

ICE had previously held Khalil at a detention facility in Jena, Louisiana, separating him from his pregnant wife and causing him to miss the birth of his son, Deen. The emotional toll of his detention extended through holidays and milestones, including his graduation and Father’s Day.

Upon release, Khalil was required to surrender his passport and green card and is now restricted to travel within specific states, including New York and Michigan, while attending court hearings and advocacy events.

The Trump administration has filed an appeal against his release, maintaining its controversial stance that pro-Palestinian activism constitutes a threat — an assertion legal experts say lacks evidence and undermines First Amendment protections.

Ocasio-Cortez, who accompanied Khalil upon arrival, emphasized the broader stakes:

“This is a violation of Mahmoud’s rights — and all our rights. We will keep fighting for justice and against political persecution.”

Khalil was one of several international students targeted under a sweeping crackdown by the administration. Others, such as Badar Khan Suri, Rümeysa Öztürk, and Mohsen Mahdawi, were also released in similar cases. Some students have voluntarily left the U.S. amid deportation proceedings; others are still in hiding.

Khalil’s leadership in campus protests, especially in uniting Jewish and Palestinian groups, was highlighted by many supporters, including Jewish faculty who filed declarations in his favor. He has long advocated that liberation for both peoples is interconnected.

A rally celebrating Khalil’s release and calling attention to ongoing detentions — in the U.S. and in Israel — is planned for Sunday at 5:30 PM at the Cathedral of St. John the Divine in Manhattan.

“Mahmoud’s freedom gives us strength to keep going until all political prisoners — from the U.S. to Gaza — are free,” said Miriam Osman of the Palestinian Youth Movement.

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