New York, NY—Today, an immigration judge in Louisiana ruled that Mahmoud Khalil is eligible to be deported. His removal proceedings will move forward in Louisiana, while a separate case will move forward in New Jersey examining the legality and constitutionality of his detention. The “evidence” submitted by the federal government in the case is simply a memo from U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio that cites Khalil’s beliefs and speech.
Following the ruling, Khalil said: “I would like to quote what you said last time that there's nothing that's more important to this court than due process rights and fundamental fairness. Clearly what we witnessed today, neither of these principles were present today or in this whole process. This is exactly why the Trump administration has sent me to this court, 1,000 miles away from my family. I just hope that the urgency that you deemed fit for me are afforded to the hundreds of others who have been here without hearing for months.”
Murad Awawdeh, President and CEO, New York Immigration Coalition:
“Today’s ruling in Mahmoud Khalil’s immigration case should outrage every American. This sets a dangerous precedent to allow the Trump administration to deny people’s fundamental rights of free speech and protest, bringing us one step closer to authoritarianism. The Trump administration has already made clear that they will go to any length to foment fear, deport dissenters, and strip people who are lawfully here of their legal protections to fulfill their agenda of remaking America in their image. But New Yorkers know better – our rights and freedoms belong to us and must be guaranteed in the courtrooms and in the streets. We will stand together to continue to fight for Mahmoud Khalil’s return to his family, and against these attacks on all our immigrant neighbors and democracy itself.”