Judge Blocks Khalil Deportation Over Free Speech Concerns

A federal judge in New Jersey ruled that the Trump administration's attempt to deport Mahmoud Khalil, a Columbia University student and pro-Palestinian activist, is likely unconstitutional due to the government's justification that Khalil's political beliefs pose a threat to U.S. foreign policy. Judge Michael Farbiarz found this rationale dangerously vague and prone to arbitrary enforcement, raising First Amendment and due process concerns. The judge did not order Khalil's immediate release because of unresolved allegations that Khalil failed to disclose certain details on his residency application. Khalil, a permanent U.S. resident, has been detained since March amid a broader Trump administration crackdown on pro-Palestinian campus activists. His legal team argues the detention violates free speech rights and aims to suppress dissent. The case has drawn attention to the use of rarely invoked immigration statutes and the role of Secretary of State Marco Rubio in targeting activists for their political expression.