In a landmark decision, a U.S. federal judge temporarily blocked efforts by Secretary of State Marco Rubio from deporting 30-year-old Mahmoud Khalil, a Palestinian Columbia University graduate. Khalil, a lawful permanent resident, has been held in a detention facility in Louisiana since March after being apprehended at his university-owned New York City apartment lobby. ⚖️
District Judge Michael Farbiarz of New Jersey ruled that deportation could cause irreparable harm to Khalil’s career and chill his freedom of speech. The judge dismissed Rubio's reliance on an obscure provision of the Immigration and Nationality Act of 1952, noting that removing Khalil could severely damage his reputation and personal rights.
This ruling comes at a time when legal residents involved in activism are increasingly seeing supportive court decisions. Recent cases include those of a Palestinian student at Columbia, a Tufts University student Rumeysa Ozturk, and a Georgetown University scholar Badar Khan Suri. Their wins echo the growing sentiment among young activists around the globe, much like the trending debates on social media platforms in South and Southeast Asia.
Our interconnected digital world means that the protection of free speech resonates far beyond the U.S. borders—from bustling cities in South Asia to vibrant metropolises in Southeast Asia. For young professionals and passionate activists alike, this decision is a powerful reminder of how defending human rights and personal expression can spark change. 🚀
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Palestinian Columbia University graduate can't be deported, judge says
cgtn.com
