A federal judge in Manhattan heard arguments Wednesday over the detention of Columbia University graduate student Mahmoud Khalil, as government lawyers sought to transfer the case to New Jersey or Louisiana, where he is currently being held. The Trump administration is pursuing Khalil’s deportation due to his involvement in pro-Palestinian protests on campus.
Khalil, a lawful permanent U.S. resident married to an American citizen, was arrested by immigration enforcement agents in New York on Saturday. He was later moved to an immigration detention center in Louisiana.
During the court hearing, Khalil’s legal team expressed frustration over restricted access to their client. “We have literally not been able to confer with our client once since he was taken off the streets,” said his attorney, Ramzi Kassem. His wife, who attended the proceedings, sat in the front row as his lawyers challenged the government’s actions.
With activists—including actress Susan Sarandon—watching from the courtroom and demonstrators chanting outside, Judge Jesse Furman ordered officials to facilitate a phone call with Khalil on Wednesday night.
Khalil’s attorneys emphasized that he has no criminal record and is a legal resident, but they opted not to immediately argue the case’s merits. Instead, they plan to file an amended petition by Thursday evening.
Government lawyers maintained that the case should be handled in New Jersey, where Khalil was initially detained, or in Louisiana, where he remains in custody.
“This case is not going to set the precedent the government wants it to set, whether in federal court or immigration court,” Kassem stated. “And as you can see from the people behind you, this is not having the chilling effect the government hoped for.”
Judge Furman acknowledged the urgency of the case and set an expedited briefing schedule, saying, “There is some need for speed here.”
After the hearing, Khalil’s supporters and legal team addressed the media, reading a statement on behalf of his wife, who criticized the government’s actions.
“My husband was taken from our home, and it is shameful that the U.S. government continues to hold him simply because he stood up for the rights of his people,” said spokesperson Shezzaabboushi Dallal.
Khalil was a leading figure in demonstrations at Columbia University last year against Israel’s military actions in Gaza.
Meanwhile, former Trump administration immigration official Tom Homan labeled Khalil a national security threat during a Wednesday appearance in Albany.
“Free speech has limits,” Homan argued. “When you take over buildings, damage property, and distribute material supporting Hamas—a designated terrorist organization—that’s a problem. Being in this country, whether on a visa or as a resident alien, is a privilege with rules. Under this administration, things are different.”
Khalil’s attorneys rejected that characterization, asserting that his case represents political repression rather than a legitimate security threat.
