Pro-Palestine activist seeks Supreme Court review of deportation ruling

Summarised from 2 outlets · Updated 20 Oct, 02:32 · Archive

Mahmoud Khalil, a pro-Palestine activist and former Columbia University student, has petitioned the US Supreme Court to overturn a ruling that could lead to his deportation.

Pro-Palestine activist Mahmoud Khalil has petitioned the United States Supreme Court to review a court ruling that could lead to his re-arrest and deportation. On Monday, Khalil's lawyers filed an emergency application seeking an immediate stay of a decision from Philadelphia's 3rd Circuit Court of Appeals.

Khalil, a permanent US resident and former Columbia University graduate student, was arrested in March 2025 inside his student housing complex, where he lives with his wife, a US citizen. He became the first student protester known to be targeted for his pro-Palestinian views under President Donald Trump's second administration.

The appeals court ruled that federal law should have prohibited lower courts from ordering Khalil's release from immigration detention. Instead, the court said his detention should have been weighed first in immigration court, which is overseen by the executive branch, rather than in district court, which is part of the judicial branch.

Khalil's lawyers have asked the Supreme Court to rule that noncitizens have the right to sue if immigration officials detain them as retaliation for exercising free speech. 'If the Trump administration can punish someone for their pro-Palestine speech, this or any future administration can punish anyone for any speech,' Khalil said during a news conference.

How it is being reported

• Palestinian activist Mahmoud Khalil asks U.S. Supreme Court to hear caseMahmoud Khalil faces the prospect of arrest and deportation if the lower court's decision is allowed to stand.The Japan Times · 20 Oct, 02:21
• Mahmoud Khalil takes deportation fight to the US Supreme CourtLawyers for the former student leader seek to overturn an appeals court decision that would allow for his removal.Al Jazeera · 20 Oct, 00:56

In this story: Mahmoud Khalil · Columbia University · United States Supreme Court · 3rd Circuit Court of Appeals · Donald Trump · Philadelphia

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