Overview

• Mahmoud Khalil, a permanent U.S. resident and Columbia University graduate, remains in ICE detention in Louisiana following his March 8 arrest.
• ICE denied Khalil's request for a two-week furlough to attend the birth of his son in New York, a decision his wife, Noor Abdalla, called 'purposeful' and punitive.
• Khalil's detention stems from a rarely used Cold War–era immigration law invoked by Secretary of State Marco Rubio, claiming his activism poses foreign policy risks.
• An immigration judge ruled earlier this month that Khalil is removable, and his legal team is appealing the decision to the Board of Immigration Appeals.
• Khalil’s case has drawn attention to the Trump administration’s crackdown on pro-Palestinian student activism, raising concerns about free speech and due process.