JENA, Louisiana -- Detained Columbia University student activist Mahmoud Khalil appeared briefly Friday in immigration court at a remote Louisiana detention center as his lawyers fight in multiple venues to try to secure his release. Khalil, 30, a legal U.S. resident with no criminal record, sat alone next to an empty chair during the court session that dealt exclusively with scheduling. With his lawyer participating via video conference, Khalil swayed back and forth in his chair while awaiting the proceedings in a courtroom located inside an isolated Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) detention complex. This facility, encircled by two rows of tall barbed-wire fences and surrounded by the pine forests of central Louisiana, is situated near the small town of Jena, roughly 150 miles north of Louisiana's capital, Baton Rouge.
Khalil smiled at two observers who entered the room, where only 13 people were present in total, including the judge, attorneys, and court staff. Two journalists and four other observers were in attendance. During the brief hearing, attorney Marc Van Der Hout stated that he had just begun representing Khalil and needed more time to speak with him about his case and to obtain relevant records. Consequently, the immigration judge set a fuller hearing for April 8, 2025.
Since his detention on March 8, 2025, Khalil's legal representatives have sought to challenge both his detention and the looming threat of deportation. A federal judge in New York recently ruled that Khalil could contest the legality of his detention, but the case must be moved to a New Jersey federal court. This development has escalated concerns about Khalil's future, especially as his wife, who is a U.S. citizen, is expecting their first child.
Khalil, who served last year as a spokesperson and negotiator for pro-Palestinian demonstrators opposing Israel’s military campaign in Gaza, faces detention due in part to President Donald Trump’s crackdown on what he describes as antisemitic and “anti-American” campus protests. It is important to note that while critics argue that such protests are legitimate expressions of dissent, some Jewish students contend that certain demonstrations went beyond criticizing the Israeli government, creating an atmosphere in which they felt unwelcome or unsafe on campus.
The controversy surrounding Khalil's case has prompted significant discussion within and beyond the Columbia campus. A task force on antisemitism at the university found “serious and pervasive” issues, leading to calls for the university to address antisemitism more robustly. White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt asserted that Khalil organized disruptive protests that harassed Jewish students and distributed pro-Hamas propaganda. The militant group Hamas attacks Israel and is designated as a terrorist organization by the U.S. government.
Complicating Khalil's legal situation, the U.S. government is attempting to deport him under a rarely invoked statute that allows for the expulsion of noncitizens who pose “potentially serious adverse foreign policy consequences for the United States.” Khalil, who was born in Syria to a Palestinian family, expressed his belief that his detention reflects “anti-Palestinian racism” prevalent in the U.S.
Before his arrest by immigration authorities, Khalil had contended that a disciplinary investigation by Columbia had unfairly scapegoated him due to his visibility at the protests. His situation at the university is now part of a larger debate concerning the influence of the current administration's policies on higher education institutions and their autonomy in addressing complex social issues.
As pressure mounts on Columbia University to respond to allegations of antisemitism, it faces demands for government control over private universities in order to qualify for federal funding for research and other initiatives. The broader implications of Khalil’s case hold the potential to reshape the landscape of campus activism and the freedoms that students enjoy.
With a critical hearing approaching, advocates for Khalil are hopeful for a resolution that upholds justice and recognizes the rights of free expression on campuses. His case underscores the ongoing tensions between activism and government policies, as well as how societal perceptions of race and identity might influence the enforcement of immigration laws.
