Appeals court ruling will prevent Mahmoud Khalil's removal while he seeks Supreme Court review
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Key Points:
- The 3rd U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals granted Mahmoud Khalil, a pro-Palestinian activist and Columbia University affiliate, a temporary stay preventing his detention while seeking Supreme Court review.
- Khalil, a green card holder married to a U.S. citizen, was initially detained in March 2025 based on Secretary of State Marco Rubio's claim that his speech threatened U.S. foreign policy interests.
- He was released from ICE custody in June 2025, and the recent court order blocks the Trump administration from re-detaining him during the appeal process.
- ACLU senior counsel Brett Max Kaufman emphasized the harm Khalil would face if detained again, highlighting concerns about family separation and suppression of free speech.
- The ACLU plans to urge the Supreme Court to prevent the government from using detention and deportation threats to silence dissenting voices.