US Immigration Judge Orders Deportation of Palestinian-Supporting Leader Citing Misrepresented Information on Green Card Form
An immigration court in the state of Louisiana has ordered the deportation of pro-Palestinian activist Mahmoud Khalil to either Algeria or alternatively Syria, stating that he failed to fully disclose necessary details on his permanent residency application, according to legal documents.
Appeal Process and Federal Protection
His legal team stated they intend to appeal the removal ruling and noted that a federal court’s independent orders presently bar the government from immediately deporting or detaining him as his federal proceedings continues.
“It is no surprise that the government persists to retaliate against me for exercising my right to expression,” he commented in a response. “This recent attempt, through a kangaroo tribunal, reveals their true colors yet again.”
Judge’s Finding and Reasoning
The order dated 12 September stated that the lack of full disclosure on Khalil’s forms “cannot be considered an oversight by an uninformed individual … instead, this court determines that the defendant wilfully falsified material fact(s).”
Judge Jamee Comans ordered: “It is herewith further ordered that the respondent be removed from the United States to Algeria, or alternatively to Syria.”
Background and Recent Circumstances
Khalil, a green card holder of the United States who is married to a US citizen and has a US-citizen son, was held for 90 days beginning in March and confronted possible deportation. His wife was pregnant at the time, and Khalil was absent for the birth of their child while in jail.
A former Columbia University attendee and among the most prominent organizers of countrywide pro-Gaza university demonstrations, Khalil was freed from custody in June but has experienced ongoing risk of deportation from federal authorities.
Administrative Context
The administration has cracked down on pro-Palestinian protesters such as Khalil, labeling them antisemitic and advocates of extremism.
Activist organizations, some of which are Jewish communities, contend that opposition of Israel’s assault on Gaza and its control of Palestinian territories does not constitute antisemitism, and that advocacy for Palestinians should not be seen as endorsement for violent extremism.
