Mahmoud Khalil's attorneys to turn to US supreme court after ruling paves way for deportation

A federal appeals court upheld a prior decision that reversed an order requiring Mahmoud Khalil’s release on bail. The ruling opens the door for the government to detain him again and pursue deportation. Khalil’s lawyers say the decision should not be implemented while they seek Supreme Court review, arguing it enables prolonged detention under harsh conditions without meaningful judicial oversight. They contend the outcome is dangerous not only for Khalil but also for other non-citizens targeted for dissent related to U.S. foreign policy. The appeals court decision was split, and dissenting judges argued it misapplied legal canons, strained precedent, and threatened civil liberties. Khalil is also challenging removal in immigration court proceedings.

"Attorneys for Mahmoud Khalil, the former Columbia University student who last year became the face of the Trump administration's crackdown on pro-Palestine speech, will ask the US supreme court to intervene after a federal appeals court opened the door for the government to once again detain and ultimately deport him. On Friday, the third circuit court of appeals upheld a January ruling by a three-judge panel, which had reversed a lower-court decision ordering Khalil's release on bail last June. The ruling marks the latest chapter in Khalil's months-long challenge of the government's campaign against him."

"We hope the supreme court will recognize how dangerous the third circuit's decision was, not just for Mahmoud but for other non-citizens the administration has its vengeful sights upon, said Baher Azmy, legal director of the Center for Constitutional Rights and part of Khalil's legal team. That ruling greenlights holding someone in prolonged, brutal detention conditions without access to meaningful judicial review in order to punish them and deter others from dissenting from US foreign policy."

"The third circuit judges were split on the decision with six voting against and five in favor of Khalil's request to reverse the earlier ruling. In a dissenting opinion, three of the judges who voted against argued that the majority's ruling ignores canons, strains precedent and imperils the civil liberties of [Khalil] and similarly situated noncitizens. Khalil's attorneys said that they planned to ask the court to pause the decision's implementation so they can bring the matter to the US supreme court."

"Khalil is also fighting the government's attempt to remove him in a separate legal case moving through the immigration court system. Earlier this month, his legal team filed a motion asking an immigration appeals court to reopen and throw out that case afte"

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