Overview

• Mahmoud Khalil, detained by ICE since March 8, was denied a temporary release to attend the birth of his son on April 21 in New York.
• ICE New Orleans director Melissa Harper rejected Khalil's furlough request within an hour, despite his lawyers offering conditions like GPS monitoring.
• Khalil’s deportation proceedings stem from a rarely used immigration law invoked by Secretary of State Marco Rubio, citing foreign policy concerns.
• An immigration judge ruled earlier this month that Khalil is eligible for deportation; his legal team is appealing the decision to the Board of Immigration Appeals.
• The case highlights the Trump administration’s broader crackdown on international student activism, raising concerns over free speech and family separation.