Judge Rules Mahmoud Khalil Deportable Over Political Beliefs

The ruling, based on a rarely used immigration law, intensifies protests and legal challenges over free speech and due process.

A Louisiana immigration judge determined that Mahmoud Khalil, a Columbia University graduate, can be deported due to his expressed political beliefs, citing U.S. foreign policy concerns.
The Trump administration invoked a seldom-used provision of the 1952 Immigration and Nationality Act to justify Khalil's deportation, claiming his presence poses a threat to U.S. interests.
Secretary of State Marco Rubio issued a memo asserting that Khalil's lawful beliefs and associations undermine U.S. foreign policy, providing the basis for the deportation case.
Protests erupted in Times Square, with demonstrators and advocates arguing that Khalil's case represents a broader crackdown on free speech and dissent in the U.S.
Khalil's legal team has until April 23 to file for relief, while a federal judge in New Jersey has temporarily blocked his deportation pending further review.