NEWARK, New Jersey — The legal team representing Mahmoud Khalil, the Palestinian activist and legal U.S. resident targeted for deportation by the Trump administration, vigorously defended his case’s jurisdiction on Friday. They argued against the proposed transfer of the case to Louisiana, where Khalil is presently detained.
During a hearing before U.S. District Judge Michael Farbiarz, Khalil’s attorney, Baher Azmy, criticized the administration’s stance as ‘radical’ and raised concerns about the broader implications of the case. ‘The public is on edge, uncertain about their own safety,’ Azmy emphasized.
Maintaining Grounds in New Jersey
Khalil, a recent graduate student at Columbia University holding a green card, asserts that the administration’s deportation efforts stem from his involvement in organizing campus protests against the Israel-Hamas conflict. The legal battle intensified as Khalil’s U.S. citizen wife, eight months pregnant with their first child, sat in the courtroom.
Judge Farbiarz deferred ruling on Khalil’s request for release, opting first to address the issue of jurisdiction. While the case had already been transferred from New York to New Jersey, the Justice Department seeks another transfer to Louisiana and the conservative 5th Circuit Court of Appeals.
Azmy contended that the case’s origins in New Jersey, where Khalil first challenged his detention, warranted its continuation in the state. Despite pleas for bail, Judge Farbiarz prioritized determining the rightful venue before addressing release.
Unusual Deportation Tactics
The Trump administration’s move to deport Khalil, invoking a rare statute based on ‘serious adverse foreign policy consequences,’ diverges from typical green card revocation scenarios. The government’s strategy faced scrutiny, particularly after a federal judge transferred the case to New Jersey against government objections.
August Flentje, representing the government, expressed discontent with the transfer, citing Khalil’s absence in the region. The case mirrors other deportation attempts targeting pro-Palestinian activists like Badar Khan Suri and Rumeysa Ozturk, prompting concerns of strategic jurisdictional shifts and retaliatory motives.
Amidst legal maneuvers, Khalil’s supporters monitor the case’s developments closely, underscoring the broader implications for activists and legal residents. The fight for justice continues as Khalil’s legal team navigates the complex web of immigration laws and constitutional rights.
