Federal Appeals Court Hands Mahmoud Khalil a Setback in His Fight Against Deportation
A 2-1 decision by the US Third Circuit Court of Appeals has dealt a significant blow to Mahmoud Khalil, a Columbia University graduate student and Algerian citizen who was arrested last year for his pro-Palestinian activism. The ruling vacates an injunction issued by a New Jersey federal judge that had blocked Khalil's deportation.
Khalil, who holds lawful permanent resident status in the US, was arrested in March 2025 on grounds that his presence posed "serious adverse foreign policy consequences" to the country. His case has been marked by controversy and criticism from civil liberties groups, who argue that his arrest is part of a broader crackdown on free speech.
Khalil had been an outspoken critic of Israel's military operations in Gaza, calling them "a genocide," and had helped organize pro-Palestinian events as president of Columbia's Palestinian Student Society. He also faces charges related to his immigration applications, including allegations that he failed to disclose past employment and organizational memberships.
The decision has sparked widespread concern among human rights groups and advocates for free speech, who fear that Khalil's deportation could set a precedent for the targeting of activists and critics of US foreign policy. A partial dissenting opinion by Judge Arianna Freeman argued that the lower court had jurisdiction over Khalil's First Amendment claims, which she said could not be meaningfully remedied in immigration court.
The ruling leaves Khalil's fate uncertain, as he may now face rearrest while waiting for an immigration court decision on his case. His lawyers have vowed to continue fighting against his deportation, and the decision has been met with widespread criticism from civil liberties groups and advocates for free speech.
A 2-1 decision by the US Third Circuit Court of Appeals has dealt a significant blow to Mahmoud Khalil, a Columbia University graduate student and Algerian citizen who was arrested last year for his pro-Palestinian activism. The ruling vacates an injunction issued by a New Jersey federal judge that had blocked Khalil's deportation.
Khalil, who holds lawful permanent resident status in the US, was arrested in March 2025 on grounds that his presence posed "serious adverse foreign policy consequences" to the country. His case has been marked by controversy and criticism from civil liberties groups, who argue that his arrest is part of a broader crackdown on free speech.
Khalil had been an outspoken critic of Israel's military operations in Gaza, calling them "a genocide," and had helped organize pro-Palestinian events as president of Columbia's Palestinian Student Society. He also faces charges related to his immigration applications, including allegations that he failed to disclose past employment and organizational memberships.
The decision has sparked widespread concern among human rights groups and advocates for free speech, who fear that Khalil's deportation could set a precedent for the targeting of activists and critics of US foreign policy. A partial dissenting opinion by Judge Arianna Freeman argued that the lower court had jurisdiction over Khalil's First Amendment claims, which she said could not be meaningfully remedied in immigration court.
The ruling leaves Khalil's fate uncertain, as he may now face rearrest while waiting for an immigration court decision on his case. His lawyers have vowed to continue fighting against his deportation, and the decision has been met with widespread criticism from civil liberties groups and advocates for free speech.
. Khalil's just trying to exercise his right to free speech & protest against Israel's actions in Gaza... meanwhile, the court is all about protecting the status quo. I'm not surprised to see a partial dissenting opinion from Judge Arianna Freeman, she's always been more open-minded compared to her colleagues 
. This ruling is super concerning for anyone who speaks out or gets involved in activism - it feels like they're being punished just for having an opinion 
. And what's with the lack of concrete evidence against Khalil? It's like his immigration applications are just a smokescreen to justify his deportation 
.
this is so worrying, a student gets arrested and deported just because he spoke out about something he believed in... I mean what's next? 
we need to make sure our rights are protected, especially when it comes to free speech. I'm not pro-Israel or pro-Palestine, I just think this case highlights the importance of standing up for what you believe in and not being afraid of consequences. 
Khalil was just speaking out against Israel's actions and now he's facing deportation because of it? that's not freedom of speech, that's a slap in the face to everyone who believes in human rights 
I'm so tired of these politicians trying to silence people like Khalil. what's next? are they gonna start deporting journalists too? 
I'm not surprised by this decision, but it still feels like a huge blow to Khalil's fight. As someone who cares about social justice, it's really unsettling to see activists like him being targeted for their activism. The idea that his presence could be seen as a "serious adverse foreign policy consequence" is just plain ridiculous... I mean, what does that even look like in practice? 
. Anyway, my sympathies are with Khalil and his team - they need all the support they can get right now! 
what did he even do wrong? just trying to stand up for Palestine & be an ally... 
anyway, gotta keep following this case and see how it all plays out... fingers crossed he can fight it off 
. what's next? gonna start deporting people who protest climate change or something?! 
. maybe we need to find a middle ground where people can express themselves without fear of reprisal, but still respect the law and national security concerns 
.
. I don't think targeting activists and critics of US foreign policy is the way to go 
. We need to protect people's rights to express themselves freely, especially when it comes to issues like Palestine 
. a 2-1 decision can be kinda scary, like, what's next for ppl who disagree with gov policy? anywayz, gotta keep track of this case cuz it might lead to some major changes in how we protect free speech & human rights 
free speech is supposed to be a thing, even for people who disagree with the gov... or Israel... or whatever. 
. It's like, we're a country that prides itself on being able to have open discussions and debates, but this case kinda suggests that might not always be the case 
and the fact that his case is being targeted as some kinda example for other activists to follow 
just gives me the heebie jeebies 
. I hope Khalil's lawyers keep fighting for him and that he gets the justice he deserves