NEW YORK — A federal judge has lifted travel restrictions for Mahmoud Khalil, allowing the Palestinian activist to speak at rallies and other events across the U.S. as he fights his deportation case brought by the Trump administration.
Khalil, who was freed from a Louisiana immigration jail in June, had asked a federal magistrate judge to lift the restrictions that limited his travel to New York, New Jersey, Washington, D.C., Louisiana and Michigan.
Hammer granted the government’s request that Khalil alert U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement about his travel plans ahead of time.
After missing the birth of his first child, he was released from the immigration jail in June by a separate federal judge.
Last month, an immigration judge in Louisiana ruled that Khalil could be deported for failing to disclose information on his green card application.
NEW YORK — A federal judge has relaxed Mahmoud Khalil’s travel restrictions, enabling the Palestinian activist to speak at rallies and other gatherings throughout the United States. A. during his battle against the Trump administration’s deportation case.
After being released from an immigration jail in Louisiana in June, Khalil had requested that a federal magistrate judge remove the limitations on his travel to New York, New Jersey, Washington, and Washington, D.C. both Michigan and Louisiana.
“He wishes to travel for the very important First Amendment reasons that are at the heart of this case,” his attorney, Alina Das, stated Thursday in a virtual hearing. His aim is to address topics that are of public interest. “.”.
Khalil “has not provided enough of a reason why he couldn’t attend these and other events telephonically,” according to government lawyer Aniello DeSimone, who opposed the action. “.
Considering that Khalil is not regarded as a flight risk and has not broken any of his release terms, Michael Hammer, the magistrate judge, agreed Thursday to permit Khalil to travel.
The government asked Khalil to notify U, and Hammer complied. S. notified Immigration and Customs Enforcement in advance of his intended trip.
Khalil, a well-known participant in Columbia University demonstrations against the Gaza War, was taken into custody by ICE officers on March 8, making him the first student activist to be caught up in President Donald Trump’s crackdown on pro-Palestinian activists. He is a law student and a recent graduate at Columbia. S. inhabitants for life.
He was released from the immigration jail in June by another federal judge after missing the birth of his first child.
Khalil may face deportation for omitting information on his green card application, according to a Louisiana immigration judge’s decision last month. That ruling is presently being contested by his lawyers.
