A U.S. judge ruled that Columbia University student Mahmoud Khalil must stay in the U.S. while his case moves to a New Jersey court. Khalil, a vocal pro-Palestinian activist, was arrested by ICE agents on March 8 outside his Manhattan residence. His legal team argues the arrest violates his First Amendment rights, calling it political retaliation.
Khalil, 30, who obtained a green card in 2023, is accused of threatening U.S. foreign policy under a rarely used 1952 immigration law. Secretary of State Marco Rubio claimed that participating in "pro-Hamas events" conflicts with national interests, though Khalil denies any ties to Hamas. His lawyers insist he was a mediator, not an instigator, during Columbia’s protests.
Initially held in New York, Khalil was transferred to New Jersey, leading to a legal challenge in Manhattan. Judge Jesse Furman denied the Trump administration’s motion to dismiss but ruled that New Jersey has jurisdiction. The Justice Department then moved Khalil to Louisiana, a state under the conservative 5th Circuit Court. His attorneys argue this relocation was strategic to limit his legal options.
Khalil's wife, Noor Abdallah, an American citizen, is eight months pregnant and unable to visit him in Louisiana. His legal team is fighting for his release on bail or relocation to be closer to her.
Calling himself a "political prisoner" in a letter from detention, Khalil awaits the New Jersey court’s ruling. His case has become a test of free speech rights and the government’s power to revoke legal residency for political activism.


Trump Administration Proposes Sweeping Limits on Gender-Affirming Care for Children
EU Court Cuts Intel Antitrust Fine to €237 Million Amid Long-Running AMD Dispute
Instacart Stock Drops After FTC Probes AI-Based Price Discrimination Claims
EU Signals Major Shift on 2035 Combustion Engine Ban Amid Auto Industry Pressure
Youth are charting new freshwater futures by learning from the water on the water
Apple App Store Injunction Largely Upheld as Appeals Court Rules on Epic Games Case
Argentina Unions Rally Against Milei’s Labor Reform as Congress Debates Key Bill
Union-Aligned Investors Question Amazon, Walmart and Alphabet on Trump Immigration Policies
The ghost of Robodebt – Federal Court rules billions of dollars in welfare debts must be recalculated
Trump Attends Dover Ceremony Honoring U.S. Personnel Killed in Syria
Federal Appeals Court Allows Trump’s National Guard Deployment in Washington, D.C. to Continue
Bolivia Orders Pre-Trial Detention of Former President Luis Arce Over Embezzlement Probe
Dan Bongino to Step Down as FBI Deputy Director After Brief, Controversial Tenure
Fernando Haddad Confirms He Will Not Run for Office in 2025, Signals Possible Exit as Brazil’s Finance Minister
Britain has almost 1 million young people not in work or education – here’s what evidence shows can change that
Bolivia’s Ex-President Luis Arce Detained in Embezzlement Probe 



