Trump Administration Challenges New Jersey Federal Judge's Order on Deportation Case

A protracted deportation case in New Jersey has taken a contentious turn, with the Trump administration lodging a formal objection to a federal judge's decision to intervene in the removal proceedings of a Palestinian activist, Mahmoud Khalil, who was arrested in March over anti-Israel protests on the Columbia University campus. The Trump administration has argued that Khalil's continued presence in the country poses a national security risk. Judge Michael Farbiarz's order, which directs the U.S. Department of Justice to have a Louisiana immigration judge vacate or amend her June 20 order for Khalil's deportation, has been deemed "unprecedented and dramatic" by the administration. A Friday legal brief from the administration states that the court lacks authority to interfere with removal proceedings. Khalil's case has been ongoing in two separate tracks: one in New Jersey, where he sought release from detention, and the other in Louisiana, where Judge Jamee Comans was overseeing the Trump administration's push to deport him. Comans issued an order of removal on June 20, the same day Khalil was released from detention and returned to his New York home. However, Farbiarz said that Comans' ruling must be vacated or amended due to the timing, and the Department of Justice has accused him of micromanaging the deportation case.

Key Takeaways:

• The Trump administration has objected to a New Jersey federal judge's decision to intervene in the deportation proceedings of Mahmoud Khalil, a Palestinian activist arrested in March over anti-Israel protests on the Columbia University campus.
• Judge Michael Farbiarz's order, which directs the U.S. Department of Justice to have a Louisiana immigration judge vacate or amend her June 20 order for Khalil's deportation, has been deemed "unprecedented and dramatic" by the administration.
• Khalil's case has been going on in two separate tracks: one in New Jersey, where he filed a petition to be released from detention, and the other in Louisiana, where Judge Jamee Comans was overseeing the Trump administration's push to deport him.
• Comans issued an order of removal on June 20, the same day Khalil was released from detention and returned to his New York home.
• Farbiarz has said that Comans' ruling must be vacated or amended due to the timing, and the Department of Justice has accused him of micromanaging the deportation case.
• Khalil has sought $20 million in damages from the Trump administration for his detention.

Statistics:

• The Trump administration has challenged the federal judge's order in a Friday legal brief, citing the need to avoid "unprecedented and dramatic" court interference in removal proceedings.
• The case has been ongoing for several months, with Khalil being arrested in March and released from detention on June 20.
• The Department of Justice has accused Judge Farbiarz of micromanaging the deportation case, stating that removal orders can be appealed to the Board of Immigration Appeals and to the appropriate federal appellate courts.
• The Trump administration has asked Farbiarz to stay his order so it can appeal.

Sources:

• "Judge says Columbia University activist facing deportation should be freed," [https://newjerseymonitor.com/briefs/judge-says-columbia-university-activist-facing-deportation-should-be-freed/](https://newjerseymonitor.com/briefs/judge-says-columbia-university-activist-facing-deportation-should-be-freed/)
• "$20 million claimed damages by activist now facing deportation," [https://newjerseymonitor.com/briefs/activist-jailed-by-trump-administration-seeks-20m-in-damages/](https://newjerseymonitor.com/briefs/activist-jailed-by-trump-administration-seeks-20m-in-damages/)
• "Trump administration says judge's order is 'unprecedented and dramatic'," [https://newjerseymonitor.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/07/7-18-25-Mahmoud-brief.pdf](https://newjerseymonitor.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/07/7-18-25-Mahmoud-brief.pdf)