JENA, La. — Mahmoud Khalil, a graduate student from Columbia University, briefly appeared in a Louisiana immigration court on Friday as legal efforts continue to facilitate his release. Khalil, who is 30 and a lawful U.S. resident with a clean record, was present for a short session focused solely on scheduling matters. His lawyer, unable to attend in person, participated through video conferencing.
At the hearing, which took place in a stark, windowless courtroom within an isolated Immigration and Customs Enforcement detention center, Khalil appeared calm but visibly anxious, rocking back and forth as he waited for proceedings to start. The detention center, secured with double layers of tall barbed-wire fences, is located in a remote area near Jena, Louisiana, about 150 miles north of Baton Rouge, surrounded by dense pine forests.
A total of 13 people, including legal representatives and court officials, were present, along with two journalists and four other observers. Partaking via video, Khalil’s attorney, Marc Van Der Hout, requested additional time to consult with his client, gather documentation, and acquaint himself with the intricacies of the case. The immigration judge set April 8 for a more comprehensive hearing.
Khalil’s legal team is also challenging his detention and potential expulsion in federal court. The urgency is heightened by the fact that his wife, a U.S. citizen, is expecting their first child soon. Recently, a New York federal judge ruled that Khalil is allowed to contest the terms of his detention, although the case has been deferred to be tried in New Jersey.
In early March, federal immigration officials detained Khalil amid a broader initiative under the Trump administration targeting what the President labeled antisemitic and anti-American protests on campuses. Last year, Khalil had taken on spokesperson and negotiator roles for demonstrations opposing Israel’s actions in Gaza.
While some protesters, including Jewish individuals, argue that opposing Israeli military operations and advocating for Palestinian rights isn’t antisemitic, certain Jewish students have claimed that the protests fostered an unwelcoming or hostile atmosphere for them. A Columbia University task force on antisemitism identified serious concerns regarding these issues on campus.
White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt accused Khalil of orchestrating protests that targeted Jewish students and distributed propaganda endorsing Hamas, a group classified by the U.S. as a terrorist organization following its attacks on Israel in October 2023.
The government aims to deport Khalil using an infrequently applied statute for noncitizens alleged to pose severe adverse consequences to U.S. foreign policy. Khalil, an Algerian national born in Syria to a Palestinian family, contends that his detention mirrors an anti-Palestinian bias prevalent in the U.S. He previously claimed that Columbia University’s disciplinary inquiry had unfairly singled him out due to his prominent role in the protests.
Columbia University is currently under pressure to address accusations of antisemitism initiated by the Trump administration, accompanied by unprecedented governmental demands. If the institution intends to continue receiving federal research grants, it must implement changes related to protests, disciplinary protocols, the Middle Eastern studies department, and other areas.
In response to federal expectations, the university announced on Friday that measures would be taken to comply with the administration’s criteria.