Immigration judge in Louisiana, Jamie Comens; Set on Friday that the Palestinian activist Mahmoud flute (30) may be deported from the United States due to its involvement in the leadership of pro-Palestinian protests at the University of Columbia last year. The judge noted that the US government was in the burden of proof required for it.
“The situation strangely mentions the time I ran away from the brutality of the Bashar al-Assad regime in Syria and searched for asylum in Lebanon,” Khalil wrote. “The logic used by the federal government to hurt me and my colleague is a direct continuation of Columbia’s suppression book about Palstin.”
“I want to quote what you said last time, that there is nothing more important to this court than rights for due process and fundamental fairness,” Khalil told the court. “Obviously what we saw today, none of these principles were present today or this whole process.” Flute added: “This is exactly why Trump has sent me to this court. 1,000 miles away from my family. I just hope that the urgency you found to be right for the other hundreds that are here without discussion for months. ” Khalil’s lawyer has extended until April 23 to submit relief.
Accusations in hiding information
During the hearing on Friday, The homeland security law attorneys (DHS) have argued that Khalil presented a misrepresentation in his Green Card request. They claim that flute was not visible for some of the organizations involved in. The Federal Authorities claimed that the flute was “not acceptable while adjusting his status” due to “fraud or a deliberate misrepresentation of substantive facts” in his status request. In addition, He was charged with discovery of his work with the Syrian office at the British Embassy in Beirut when he applied for permanent residency in the US.
The agency too Declated the flute in the discovery of his work with UNRWA – the UN Relief and Employment Agency for Palestinian refugees, and his membership in the Columbia University Apartheid Divest Organization.
Comments for a decision
Following the ruling, the Khalil’s lawyer for immigration, Sabrin MuhammadShe called the “unjust as she was concerned.” “This is a blatant violation of the first amendment and is dangerous to anyone who believes in freedom of speech and political expression,” she said. “Mahmoud is now imprisoned in Louisiana, a country that holds more than 7000 people daily and serves as the second largest center for US immigration arrests“. Secretary of the US Defense Ministry, Cryst also referred to the judgment, saying that a graduate of Columbia “hates America”.
“This is a right to receive a visa or Green Card to live and learn in the United States of America. When you support violence, praise and support terrorists who are happy to kill Americans, and disturbing Jews, this right should be depleted, and you should not be in this country,” she said. “Go to Peace”.
The legal background
Judge Comens ordered the federal government to present evidence that justifies its experience to expel the flute. Secretary of State Marco Rubio Responded on behalf of the government in a half -page letter sent to court on Wednesday. He relied on a section in the 1952 immigration and citizenship law to justify the removal of a flute from the United States.
The section allows the Secretary of State to deport foreign citizens if the secretary states that their presence in the US “will cause serious negative consequences for foreign policy.” This significant foreign policy. ”
The defense claims
Faint Attorneys argued that the arrest of the University of Columbia is “unusual and unprecedented” and that the scope of the 1952 immigration and citizenship law is “far -reaching.” They stated: “President Donald Trump and Secretary of State Marco Rubio Can apply it to any expression supporting Palestinian rights by any foreign citizen. And the policy does not provide standards or notice of which specific statements may reveal foreign citizens to this unprecedented determination. ”
They claimed that if he was carried out, the deportation could lead to “a cooling effect on political discussion,” saying: “Many foreign citizens across the state – including legal residents such as Mr. Khalil – are now living in fear that they will be the following as if the actual or attributed speech will bring them to the direct range of this governance, and many choose to remain silent.”
Cancellation of visas following participation in checks
A flute is the first in the Trump administration’s journey to cancel students’ visas due to participation in protests. The US Defense Ministry claimed that it “led activities identified with Hamas, a declared terrorist organization.” Anti-Israeli protests have caused a great deal of destruction on university campuses following October 7, 2023, which led to Trump’s campaign to cancel foreign student visas.
A flute kept his innocence throughout the discussions, and wrote a poignant opinion article published in the university. The article, titled “Letter to Colombia,” blamed the institution for “landing the foundations for the kidnapper.” He continued to compare Trump’s oppression against anti-Israeli protesters to Columbia’s indifference to Palestinians, while counting other students who were “abducted by the state”.
He continued to blame Columbia’s managers of “public hysteria about anti -Semitism without even mentioning the tens of thousands of Palestinians who were murdered under bombs made from your dollars.” The message arrived weeks after ICE agents stopped in New York in early March.