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Rep. Jayapal hails court decision to free Mahmoud Khalil
Khalil had been held by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) since March.
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Malvika Choudhary - Sat, 21, Jun 2025
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Rep. Pramila Jayapal / Wikipedia
Indian Congresswoman Pramila Jayapal on June 20 welcomed a judicial decision that ordered the release of Mahmoud Khalil.
A Palestinian-born Columbia University graduate and lawful U.S. permanent resident, Khalil had been held by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) since March.
Also Read: US judge orders release of pro-Palestinian activist Khalil
“Today’s judicial ruling that Mahmoud Khalil had to be released from ICE detention is a critical step on the road to justice,” Jayapal said. “Mahmoud Khalil will finally be reunited with his wife and newborn baby, whose birth he missed while unjustly detained.”
After months of unjust detention, Mahmoud Khalil has finally been released. My full statement: pic.twitter.com/Ep1Zgj674X
— Rep. Pramila Jayapal (@RepJayapal) June 21, 2025
Jayapal criticized Khalil’s detention as a misuse of the immigration system to silence constitutionally protected political speech, calling it “a stain on our immigration and justice system.”
“In this case, as in several others, we see the Trump Administration is continuing to simply target people of all legal statuses, including legal permanent residents and even U.S. citizens, simply for disagreeing with their administration in any way,” she said. “That is not American and is a gross violation of all of our fundamental rights.”
Khalil’s case, Jayapal noted, highlights broader concerns about civil liberties under immigration enforcement. “Every single person in America should understand that if this Administration can do this to Khalil, they can do the same thing to you.”
The Congresswoman reiterated her support for Khalil and his family: “ There is more work to do to bring full justice to this situation, and to stop the attacks on so many across this country.”
Khalil was arrested in early March during a wave of ICE detentions targeting international students involved in pro-Palestinian activism, particularly in response to protests over the war in Gaza. The Trump Administration alleged that Khalil’s presence threatened U.S. foreign policy and cited omissions in his immigration paperwork—accusations widely criticized by civil rights groups and legal experts as unsubstantiated and politically motivated.
On June 20, U.S. District Judge Michael Farbiarz ordered Khalil’s release, stating that he “is not a flight risk and not a danger to the community,” and describing his detention as “highly, highly unusual” and likely in violation of his constitutional rights.
Under the terms of his release, Khalil must surrender his passport and green card and restrict travel to certain U.S. states, including New York.
His detention drew widespread condemnation from advocacy organizations such as the ACLU and Amnesty International, along with students and faculty at Columbia University—including Jewish groups—and 103 House Democrats led by Jayapal. Supporters described the case as part of a broader attempt to criminalize dissent and chill political expression.
Khalil missed both his graduation and the birth of his first child while detained in a remote ICE facility in Jena, Louisiana.
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