Gaby Del Valle
A federal judge says Trump’s rationale for trying to deport Mahmoud Khalil is probably illegal.
Khalil, a Columbia student, was arrested by ICE in March over his involvement in pro-Palestine activism despite being a permanent resident. Citing a Cold War-era law, administration officials claimed Khalil’s presence in the country is detrimental to the US’s foreign policy interest.
In a 106-page ruling, judge Michael Farbiarz said the State Department never explained whether Khalil’s activism “affected US relations with any other country,” making the deportation effort “unconstitutionally vague.” For now, Khalil remains detained in Louisiana.
