Court Orders Release of Anti-Israel Activist Mahmoud Khalil from ICE Custody

A federal judge issued a ruling that anti-Israel activist Mahmoud Khalil be released from U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) custody, stating that Khalil is not a flight risk.

U.S. District Judge Michael E. Farbiarz ruled that Khalil — a green-card holder who led anti-Israel protests at Columbia University — should be released from ICE custody “at some point on Friday,” Politico reported.

Farbiarz, who was appointed by former President Joe Biden, claimed there was “something to the underlying claim that there is an effort to use immigration proceedings here to punish the petitioner here,” and “that would be unconstitutional.”

As – News reported, Farbiarz previously rejected Khalil’s request to be released from ICE custody, explaining that he had “not put forward factual evidence as to why it might be unlawful to detain him” regarding the charge that he reportedly omitted information on his green card application:

New Jersey District Judge Michael E. Farbiarz rejected Khalil’s request for release, ruling on Friday that the anti-Israel agitator “did not put forward factual evidence as to why it might be unlawful to detain him” on a second charge, and “failed to make meaningful legal arguments.”

Khalil was arrested by ICE agents in March as President Donald Trump and his administration tackled antisemitism on college and university campuses.

In an executive order in January, Trump directed Secretary of State Marco Rubio, Attorney General Pam Bondi, Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Secretary Kristi Noem, and Director of National Intelligence (DNI) Tulsi Gabbard to “identify all resources that may be used to ensure that all aliens seeking admission to the United States, or who are already” in the country are property screened and vetted “to the maximum degree.”