A U.S. immigration judge has ruled that Mahmoud Khalil, a pro-Palestinian protester and permanent resident, can be deported, according to his lawyer.

Government Provides Evidence

Judge Jamee Comans, who is based in Louisiana, stated that the government had provided enough evidence to justify deporting Khalil. As a result, Khalil’s lawyer, Marc van der Hout, strongly criticized the decision. He said, “Today, we saw our worst fears play out: Mahmoud was subject to a charade of due process, a flagrant violation of his right to a fair hearing, and a weaponisation of immigration law to suppress dissent. This is not over, and our fight continues.”

Legal Deadline Set

However, the court has not set a deportation date yet. Instead, the judge gave Khalil’s legal team until April 23 to submit a request for a waiver.

Khalil is a Columbia University student and has been a key figure in the pro-Palestinian protests against Israel’s war in Gaza. Moreover, he is married to a U.S. citizen. Authorities arrested him and moved him to Louisiana, which quickly triggered more protests.

Court Demands Clarity

Earlier, Judge Comans had asked the government to clearly explain its position. Officials argue that Khalil’s protest activities could threaten national security.

Rubio Raises Concerns

Furthermore, U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio told the court that Khalil’s activism might hurt U.S. foreign policy. Still, he did not officially claim that Khalil has links to Hamas, although some unnamed officials hinted at this in media reports.

Other Students Also Targeted

In addition, other international student protesters are facing similar action. One example is Badar Khan Suri, an Indian scholar. Authorities arrested him as well. He is married to a U.S. citizen of Palestinian origin, and officials accused him of having alleged links to Hamas.