Judge Allows Detention of Columbia Activist Khalil

A federal judge has ruled that Mahmoud Khalil, a former Columbia University student and prominent pro-Palestinian activist, can remain in immigration detention while the Trump administration pursues allegations he lied on his green card application. Judge Michael Farbiarz had previously barred authorities from detaining or deporting Khalil on foreign policy grounds, but found that Khalil's legal team did not sufficiently challenge a separate claim regarding omissions on his immigration forms. The government alleges Khalil failed to disclose associations with organizations such as the United Nations Relief and Works Agency (UNRWA), but Khalil contends his involvement was limited to an approved internship. Khalil's lawyers denounced his continued detention as punitive and a delay tactic, highlighting its toll on Khalil and his family. The judge noted that Khalil could seek bail from the immigration court but denied immediate relief. The case underscores tensions surrounding protests related to Israel and Palestine and the Trump administration's response to foreign student activists.