Mahmoud Khalil, a Palestinian activist and graduate student at Columbia University, remains in danger of being re-detained by the government despite a recent court ruling. Last month, a federal appeals court overturned a lower court's order to release Khalil from detention, which would allow him to be picked up again within 45 days.
The decision has sent shockwaves through Khalil's supporters, who are now worried about his safety. Brett Max Kaufman, an attorney with the American Civil Liberties Union and member of Khalil's legal team, stated that the government cannot immediately re-detain Khalil for deportation. Before the appeals process is over, that would not be possible.
Khalil had been detained at his New York apartment in March and flown to a Louisiana detention center. He spent three months there while the government sought to deport him, missing the birth of his child. The Trump administration has claimed that Khalil's activism for Palestine is a threat to national security, despite evidence suggesting otherwise.
The 3rd U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals ruled in a split decision, with two judges siding against releasing Khalil and one judge dissenting. While this ruling does not immediately take effect, it leaves room for the possibility that Khalil could be re-detained if he appeals the decision within the next few months.
Khalil's supporters are concerned about the implications of this ruling on free speech rights in the United States. Kaufman stated that "if this decision stands, the government might be able to snatch you up for your speech and put you in detention for years." This would undermine the fundamental principle of freedom of expression and allow for authoritarian repression.
Other pro-Palestinian activists who were detained by the Trump administration are also awaiting their appeals. The 2nd U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals is reviewing similar arguments for another detainee, Rümeysa Öztürk, a Tufts University doctoral student who was released last year after federal judges ruled that her constitutional rights had been violated.
In Texas, Leqaa Kordia remains in immigration detention despite allegations from the government that she has ties to Hamas. Her case highlights the dangers of relying on unproven claims about someone's alleged connections to a terrorist organization.
As The Intercept continues to cover these stories and fight for press freedom, it needs the support of readers like you. Will you help us expand our reporting capacity in time to hit the ground running in 2026?
The decision has sent shockwaves through Khalil's supporters, who are now worried about his safety. Brett Max Kaufman, an attorney with the American Civil Liberties Union and member of Khalil's legal team, stated that the government cannot immediately re-detain Khalil for deportation. Before the appeals process is over, that would not be possible.
Khalil had been detained at his New York apartment in March and flown to a Louisiana detention center. He spent three months there while the government sought to deport him, missing the birth of his child. The Trump administration has claimed that Khalil's activism for Palestine is a threat to national security, despite evidence suggesting otherwise.
The 3rd U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals ruled in a split decision, with two judges siding against releasing Khalil and one judge dissenting. While this ruling does not immediately take effect, it leaves room for the possibility that Khalil could be re-detained if he appeals the decision within the next few months.
Khalil's supporters are concerned about the implications of this ruling on free speech rights in the United States. Kaufman stated that "if this decision stands, the government might be able to snatch you up for your speech and put you in detention for years." This would undermine the fundamental principle of freedom of expression and allow for authoritarian repression.
Other pro-Palestinian activists who were detained by the Trump administration are also awaiting their appeals. The 2nd U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals is reviewing similar arguments for another detainee, Rümeysa Öztürk, a Tufts University doctoral student who was released last year after federal judges ruled that her constitutional rights had been violated.
In Texas, Leqaa Kordia remains in immigration detention despite allegations from the government that she has ties to Hamas. Her case highlights the dangers of relying on unproven claims about someone's alleged connections to a terrorist organization.
As The Intercept continues to cover these stories and fight for press freedom, it needs the support of readers like you. Will you help us expand our reporting capacity in time to hit the ground running in 2026?
. As an outsider looking in, I think the US government's actions towards these activists are alarming. They're using national security as a pretext to silence people who are just expressing their opinions and advocating for human rights. It's like they're trying to create a chill effect where people feel afraid to speak out against injustices. Free speech is a fundamental right in this country, and if the government can start re-detaining people just because of what they say, that's a recipe for disaster 
. What's next? Will they start targeting others who are critical of their policies or have different views on politics? It's time to hold our leaders accountable and make sure these activists are safe to do their work 
- like, mahmoud khalil has been through so much already and now he's still in danger because of a court ruling that doesn't even make sense 
. i'm seriously worried about what could happen to him next - the thought of being detained just for speaking out against islamophobia and palestine oppression is just not right 
. and can we talk about how messed up our immigration system is? leqaa kordia in texas has been in detention for who knows how long without even being tried or anything... it's just so frustrating 
- I mean, we're already living in a world where gov'ts are trying to silence people for speaking out about social justice issues, and now it seems like they think they can detain someone just because of their activism 
. It's like, what even is the definition of free speech anymore? 
And what's with all these appeals and court battles - it feels like we're stuck in some kinda never-ending cycle 
. As for Khalil, I just hope he's okay and that someone's looking out for him 
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. We need to stand strong with these activists and support organizations that fight for press freedom and human rights 
. Can't let gov't bully people into silence 
this case highlights the dark side of nationalism and xenophobia, where anyone can be accused of ties to a terrorist organization without any evidence 
we need to stand with Khalil's supporters and fight for the fundamental right to express ourselves without fear of retribution 
I'm so worried about Mahmoud Khalil and all his supporters! 
This ruling is just terrifying - if they can re-detain him for speaking out, what's next? 
We should be supporting people who are fighting for justice and human rights, not trying to silence them. Let's keep pushing back against authoritarianism and protect our fundamental freedoms! 
, I mean, what's the big deal about a little protest or activism? If people are really that scared of being detained for speaking out, maybe they should just stick to watching Netflix and eating Cheetos 
. And let's be real, if someone's got ties to Hamas, its not like they're gonna hurt anyone in the US 
. We should be grateful to have a government that takes these kinds of allegations seriously and doesn't just let people waltz around freely just because they've got a cause 
The whole thing about freedom of speech feels really off here. I don't think it's okay for the gov to use "national security" as an excuse to silence people just because they're outspoken about certain issues. It kinda feels like they're trying to chill dissenting voices, which is super problematic in a country that prides itself on having open discussions. 
. I mean, what's next? Detaining people for protesting climate change or voting for a certain party 
? This is America, for crying out loud! We're supposed to be the land of free speech and freedom, not some authoritarian regime where dissenting voices get shut down 
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. We can't just throw people in detention without proof, that's not how our justice system works. It's like they're trying to create a climate of fear and intimidation 
. We can't let these issues fade away 
.
. Like what's happening to these people? They're just trying to live their lives and speak out about something they care about, and then BAM! They get detained for being vocal about Palestine 
. Now it feels like they're trying to silence us 
. And now this appeals court ruling has him in limbo again? 
. I'm worried about pro-Palestinian activists everywhere who might get caught in the crossfire 
. It's not just Khalil; Rümeysa Öztürk's case in Tufts is another example of how this system can go horribly wrong 
. I remember when we could have a real conversation about politics without fear of retribution... those were the days 
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. They're doing some amazing work and we need all the support we can get. Can't let them down, right? 
