Pro-Palestinian activist Mahmoud Khalil can be deported from the United States, a Louisiana immigration judge, Jamee Comans, has ruled.
Khalil, a Columbia University graduate student, led the protests against Israel last spring after the military operation in Gaza following the Hamas attack in October 2023 during Jewish holidays.
During Friday's hearing at the remote Louisiana detention center, Judge Comans said she had no authority to question the decision of Secretary of State Marco Rubio.
In response to the ruling, Khalil told the judge that, according to her previous statement, there's nothing more important than due process rights and fundamental fairness.
“Clearly, what we witnessed today—neither of these principles were present today or in this whole process,” he said. “This is exactly why the Trump administration has sent me to this court, 1,000 miles away from my family.”
Khalil appealed to the justice system to ensure “the urgency that you deemed fit for me is afforded to the hundreds of others who have been here without hearing for months.”
However, Judge Comans gave Khalil, who is a lawful permanent resident by virtue of his green card, until April 23 to request a stay of his deportation.
The judge said after the deadline, she will order Khalil's removal either to Syria, where he was born, or to Algeria, where he is a citizen. His attorneys are expected to file an appeal.
