New York, Apr 11 (EFE). – A United States federal judge ruled Friday that President Donald Trump’s administration can proceed with the deportation of Mahmoud Khalil, the Palestinian student who led protests at Columbia University against the war in Gaza.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Louisiana Judge Jamee Comans claimed that Khalil could be deported because of “beliefs, statements, or associations” that could harm US foreign policy interests.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Comans was to decide whether Khalil, who has been detained for more than a month, should be released or deported as requested by Secretary of State Marco Rubio, who based his request on the Palestinian student’s alleged “anti-Semitic” behavior.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The Louisiana judge has given Khalil’s defenders until Apr. 23 to appeal the ruling, warning that if they fail to do so, he will order his deportation to Syria (where he lived before coming to the United States) or Algeria, a country of which he is also a national.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Khalil’s legal team said the Louisiana judge’s decision violated his constitutional rights and set a harmful precedent.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cDespite the government\u2019s failure to prove that Mahmoud broke any law, the court has decided that lawful permanent residents can have their status revoked for pro-Palestine advocacy,\u201d Khalil\u2019s legal team said at a press conference following the hearing.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The judge on Wednesday asked government lawyers to present evidence to support the decision to deport Khalil, 30, who was arrested in New York on Mar. 8 after his residency was revoked.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Various organizations have denounced what this means for suppression of public freedoms, the right to dissent, and freedom of expression. EFE <\/p>\n\n\n\n
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