Mahmoud Khalil Set to Appear in Immigration Court

The removal case of activist — and lawful permanent resident — Mahmoud Khalil continues. 

CNN reports that latest on Khalil’s case  An immigration judge in Louisiana where Khalil is being detained in a hearing today may decide whether to release him after he was arrested by federal agents.

The immigration court ordered the U.S. government to turn over evidence supporting its effort to remove Khalil from the United States.  The U.S. government submitted a memo Wednesday from Secretary of State Marco Rubio alleging Khalil is removable because of his “beliefs, statements or associations” that would compromise U.S. foreign policy, a rarely used removal ground.  The memo contained no allegations of criminal activity by Khalil.

UPDATE (Apr. 12):  The ACLU press release on the hearing:

“In a decision that appeared to be pre-written, an immigration judge ruled immediately after a hearing today that Mahmoud Khalil is removable under U.S. immigration law. This comes less than 48 hours after the U.S. government handed over the “evidence” they have on Mr. Khalil — which included nothing more than a letter from Secretary of State Marco Rubio that made clear Mr. Khalil had not committed a crime and was being targeted solely based on his speech. He is not yet scheduled for deportation. . . .

Despite this ruling, Mr. Khalil’s federal habeas case, which is being heard in the U.S. District Court for the District of New Jersey, will continue. On Friday, Judge Michael E. Farbiarz ordered both the government and Mr. Khalil’s legal team to immediately report to his court after the immigration hearing for an update on what transpired.

At the federal court level, Mr. Khalil’s legal team will continue to seek bail, as well as a preliminary injunction (PI) that would immediately release him from custody and allow him to reunite with his family in New York while his immigration case proceeds. If granted, the PI would also block President Trump’s policy of arresting and detaining noncitizens who have engaged in First Amendment protected activity in support of Palestinian rights.”

KJ