Mahmoud Khalil calls for deportation to be halted in light of new evidence

Lawyers for Mahmoud Khalil, a former Columbia University student facing deportation, are urging an immigration appeals court to halt his case. New evidence suggests the Trump administration "engineered" the outcome of his immigration proceedings, potentially to make an example of him for his pro-Palestine advocacy. Khalil was detained in March 2025, and a final removal order was issued recently. Lawyers cite a New York Times report indicating his case was flagged as high priority and fast-tracked at the Board of Immigration Appeals, with unusual recusals by judges. The government has framed Khalil's deportation as a crackdown on anti-Semitism, though he has never been charged with a crime. Khalil maintains he is being targeted for his political views.

Mahmoud Khalil's lawyer has labeled his immigration case a "sham" following revelations that the Department of Justice fast-tracked his deportation. Khalil, a noncitizen activist, was arrested as part of a crackdown on pro-Palestinian speech. His legal team alleges the case was predetermined by the Trump administration, citing an unusually rapid decision from the Board of Immigration Appeals (BIA) after multiple judges recused themselves. Internal documents suggest the case was flagged as high priority, leading to accusations of political interference. Khalil, a legal permanent resident married to a US citizen, faces potential expulsion from the US depending on ongoing legal challenges.

A family, the El Gamals, who had been held in U.S. immigration detention for ten months, the longest known duration for a family during the Trump administration's second term, were re-arrested by immigration authorities in Colorado shortly after their release. Their lawyers stated this re-arrest and attempted deportation violated a federal court order that had barred their removal. A U.S. District Judge had initially ordered their release and subsequently granted an emergency order to prevent their deportation. The Department of Homeland Security, however, maintained the family had received due process and dismissed the judge's order. The incident highlights the administration's hardline immigration policies and instances of challenging court orders.