Judge Rules Mahmoud Khalil’s Case Will Stay in New Jersey

The decision blocks the Trump administration's attempt to transfer the case to Louisiana, where the activist remains in federal custody.

A U.S. District Judge ruled that Mahmoud Khalil's case will remain in New Jersey, denying the Trump administration's motion to move it to Louisiana.
The judge determined that jurisdiction lies in New Jersey because Khalil was detained in the state when his habeas corpus motion was filed.
Khalil, a pro-Palestinian activist and Columbia University graduate, was arrested outside his campus apartment on March 8 under allegations of ties to Hamas.
Following his arrest, Khalil was transferred through facilities in Manhattan and New Jersey before being detained in Louisiana, where he remains.
The case has drawn attention to civil liberties concerns, as Khalil’s attorneys challenge the use of immigration laws to target political dissenters.