Federal Judge Orders Release of Former Columbia University Student Held in Detention

A federal judge in New Jersey ordered the US government to release former Columbia University graduate student Mahmoud Khalil from immigration detention, citing a lack of evidence against him and concerns about his treatment. Khalil had been held since March while the Trump administration sought to deport him over his role in pro-Palestinian protests. The judge's decision was a victory for Khalil's lawyers, who argued that he was unlikely to flee and posed no danger to the community.

Key Takeaways:

U.S. District Judge Michael Farbiarz ordered the release of Mahmoud Khalil from immigration detention, citing a lack of evidence against him.
Khalil had been held since March while the Trump administration sought to deport him over his role in pro-Palestinian protests.
The judge ruled that it would be "highly, highly unusual" for the government to continue detaining a legal U.S. resident who was unlikely to flee and hadn't been accused of any violence.
Khalil is likely not a flight risk and "is not a danger to the community," according to the judge.
The government had not met the standards for detention, the judge said.
Khalil was the first arrest under President Trump's crackdown on students who joined campus protests against Israel's devastating war in Gaza.
U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio had said Khalil must be expelled from the country because his continued presence could harm American foreign policy.
The judge noted that Khalil is now a public figure given his prominence during the campus protests and since his detainment.

Statistics:

Khalil was held in detention for three months before the judge's ruling.
The judge held an hour-long hearing by phone to consider Khalil's case.
Khalil's wife, Dr. Noor Abdalla, is a U.S. citizen, as is their newborn son.

Sources:

Associated Press, no date mentioned
[No other sources mentioned in the original text]