A U.S. judge ruled that Columbia University student Mahmoud Khalil must stay in the U.S. while his case moves to a New Jersey court. Khalil, a vocal pro-Palestinian activist, was arrested by ICE agents on March 8 outside his Manhattan residence. His legal team argues the arrest violates his First Amendment rights, calling it political retaliation.
Khalil, 30, who obtained a green card in 2023, is accused of threatening U.S. foreign policy under a rarely used 1952 immigration law. Secretary of State Marco Rubio claimed that participating in "pro-Hamas events" conflicts with national interests, though Khalil denies any ties to Hamas. His lawyers insist he was a mediator, not an instigator, during Columbia’s protests.
Initially held in New York, Khalil was transferred to New Jersey, leading to a legal challenge in Manhattan. Judge Jesse Furman denied the Trump administration’s motion to dismiss but ruled that New Jersey has jurisdiction. The Justice Department then moved Khalil to Louisiana, a state under the conservative 5th Circuit Court. His attorneys argue this relocation was strategic to limit his legal options.
Khalil's wife, Noor Abdallah, an American citizen, is eight months pregnant and unable to visit him in Louisiana. His legal team is fighting for his release on bail or relocation to be closer to her.
Calling himself a "political prisoner" in a letter from detention, Khalil awaits the New Jersey court’s ruling. His case has become a test of free speech rights and the government’s power to revoke legal residency for political activism.


Trump Signs Executive Order to Establish National AI Regulation Standard
EU Court Cuts Intel Antitrust Fine to €237 Million Amid Long-Running AMD Dispute
U.S. Military Bill Seeks to End Dependence on China for Display Technology by 2030
Zelenskiy Signals Willingness to Drop NATO Bid as Ukraine, U.S. Hold Crucial Peace Talks in Berlin
ANZ Faces Legal Battle as Former CEO Shayne Elliott Sues Over A$13.5 Million Bonus Dispute
Britain has almost 1 million young people not in work or education – here’s what evidence shows can change that
Disaster or digital spectacle? The dangers of using floods to create social media content
Why a ‘rip-off’ degree might be worth the money after all – research study
Ukraine’s NATO Concession Unlikely to Shift Peace Talks, Experts Say
U.S. Homeland Security Ends TSA Union Contract, Prompting Legal Challenge
Trump Signals Two Final Candidates for Fed Chair, Calls for Presidential Input on Interest Rates
Malaysia Airlines Ordered to Compensate Families of MH370 Passengers
The ghost of Robodebt – Federal Court rules billions of dollars in welfare debts must be recalculated
California, 18 States Sue to Block Trump’s $100,000 H-1B Visa Fee
Office design isn’t keeping up with post-COVID work styles - here’s what workers really want
Thousands Protest in Brazil Against Efforts to Reduce Jair Bolsonaro’s Prison Sentence
Preservation Group Sues Trump Administration to Halt $300 Million White House Ballroom Project 



