The U.S. government is seeking to move Columbia University graduate Mahmoud Khalil’s case from New York, where a hearing into his status happened Wednesday, to Louisiana or New Jersey.
Khalil is a Palestinian activist who is a permanent legal resident of the U.S. in the country on a green card, but the Trump administration is seeking to revoke the green card on their accusations that he is “Pro-Hamas” and engaged in “pro-terrorist,” antisemitic activity.
Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) detained Khalil at his university residence on Saturday, but U.S. District Judge Jesse Furman blocked efforts to deport him, leading to the Wednesday hearing in New York. But prosecutors requested that the case be moved from New York to New Jersey or Louisiana, where Khalil is currently being held, in a motion filed Tuesday.
Khalil was first held in New Jersey but was moved to an immigration detention center in Louisiana. The 30-year-old did not attend Wednesday’s hearing.
Khalil’s attorneys are pushing for him to be returned to New York and released under supervision, while attorney Brandon Waterman, representing the Justice Department, argued that the case should be moved to New Jersey or Louisiana because that’s where Khalil has been held.
If Khalil’s case is transferred to Louisiana, it would go through the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit, the most conservative court in the country.
Ramzi Kassem, an attorney for Khalil, raised during the hearing that the legal team hasn’t yet been able to have an attorney-client-protected phone call with their client. Furman ruled that Khalil’s attorneys must be allowed to speak with him at least once on Wednesday and Thursday.
Furman also directed both sides to submit a joint letter on Friday detailing when they plan to submit written arguments in the case.
Khalil’s arrest has sparked widespread protests among critics of the administration’s move and stirred progressive calls for his immediate release.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
