The situation surrounding Mahmoud Khalil, a Columbia University student and Palestinian activist, has ignited significant unrest, leading to protests outside a federal court in New York City. Khalil was arrested by ICE agents in recent days and faces the possibility of deportation, following growing governmental scrutiny of pro-Palestinian activism, particularly amid heightened tensions related to recent conflicts in Gaza. His legal representation argues that Khalil has faced severe limitations in communication, calling for his immediate return to New York and underscoring the potential implications for free speech in the U.S.
During the brief hearing, Khalil's lawyer Ramzi Kassem said his client had been allowed just one call with his legal team from the detention centre where he is being held in the southern state of Louisiana.
US District Judge Jesse Furman ruled that Khalil and his lawyers should have one phone call on Wednesday and another on Thursday, covered by attorney-client privilege, meaning the government would not have access to their conversation.
Khalil had been at the forefront of pro-Palestinian demonstrations at Columbia University last year, which saw students demanding an end to Israel's war in the Gaza Strip.
Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents arrested Khalil, a 29-year-old Columbia University graduate and US permanent resident, at his residence in New York City at the weekend.
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