US court revokes lower judge's order to release Palestinian activist
A US appeals court has ruled a federal judge lacked jurisdiction to order the release of Palestinian activist Mahmoud Khalil, reopening the possibility of his detention and deportation. Khalil called the decision "deeply disappointing" and vowed to continue his legal fight.
US court revokes lower judge's order to release Palestinian activist
A US federal appeals court has overturned a lower court's ruling that freed a pro-Palestinian activist from immigration detention, stating the judge exceeded his legal authority. The decision revives the Trump administration's effort to detain and potentially deport Mahmoud Khalil, a lawful US resident and former Columbia University graduate student.
Appeals court ruling on jurisdictional grounds
The Philadelphia-based Third US Circuit Court of Appeals, in a 2-1 decision, found that federal immigration law stripped the trial court of the power to consider Khalil's challenge to his detention. The court ordered the case dismissed on jurisdictional grounds, effectively nullifying the earlier release order issued by Judge Michael E. Farbiarz of the Federal District Court in Newark, New Jersey.
Background of Khalil's detention and accusations
Khalil was detained without a warrant by immigration officers in New York City in March and held for months in a Louisiana facility. The administration claimed his presence threatened US foreign policy interests but presented no evidence. Judge Farbiarz had ordered his release on bail in June, barring the government from further detention or deportation. Khalil's legal team argued the government's actions were likely unconstitutional, aimed at silencing pro-Palestine advocacy.
Activist's response and implications for civil liberties
Reacting to the ruling, Khalil stated it was "deeply disappointing, but it does not break our resolve." He vowed to pursue every legal avenue to protect his rights. Bobby Hodgson of the New York Civil Liberties Union called the decision a blow to judicial oversight of constitutional violations. For observers in nations like Türkiye, which closely monitors the rights of diaspora communities and the protection of political speech, the case highlights concerns about the use of immigration law to target activists and the narrowing of judicial review in the United States.
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