US Judge Rules Deportation Request for Palestinian Activist Halil Justified
Judge Jamee Cans, who presides over immigration cases in the United States, has made a decision regarding Mahmud Halil, a graduate student at Columbia University. Halil was recently taken into custody in New York and transferred to an immigration facility in Louisiana.
The decision made by Judge Cans, who handles immigration cases in Louisiana, was in favor of the US government in the deportation case brought by the Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) against Halil. The judge stated that the evidence presented in the indictment provided sufficient basis for the continuation of the deportation process by ICE officials.
This deportation decision comes approximately one month after Halil’s detention on March 8th and subsequent transfer to an ICE facility in Louisiana. Halil, who was reportedly a former chief negotiator of a pro-Palestine camp at Columbia University, has until April 23rd to appeal the decision made by the judge.
Since Halil’s detention, various non-governmental organizations, educational institutions, and politicians in the United States have shown support for him and other students facing similar situations. Critics have also voiced their concerns over the government’s policies regarding such cases.
In response to these events, demonstrations advocating for freedom of thought and expression under the First Amendment of the Constitution have been organized in the US, particularly in Washington over the weekends.
Mahmud Halil, a Palestinian activist and graduate student at Columbia University, was detained on March 8th while returning home with his wife. Despite his wife holding a green card for permanent residency in the US, Halil’s own green card was revoked by immigration officials.
Lawyer Amy Greer, representing Halil, emphasized the unjust nature of the arrest and highlighted the government’s intention to target supporters of HAMAS for deportation. Halil’s case was initially heard in the New York Regional Court, where a temporary halt was placed on his deportation before being transferred to the New Jersey Regional Court.
Another similar case involving Turkish student Rümeysa Öztürk, a PhD candidate at TUFT University, has also been postponed until April 14th. The ongoing legal battles highlight the challenges faced by students and activists in the current political climate in the US.
