Mahmoud Khalil to challenge denial of waiver of removability after US federal court ruling News
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Mahmoud Khalil to challenge denial of waiver of removability after US federal court ruling

Palestinian activist Mahmoud Khalil informed a New Jersey court Wednesday that he will challenge a September 12 denial of his waiver of removability to Syria or Algeria.

In a letter to the US District Court for the District of New Jersey, Khalil’s legal team alleged that he was denied a waiver of removability without an evidentiary hearing, which is a standard part of removability determinations. Khalil’s legal team noted that the immigration did not allow Khalil’s wife to present testimony or hear the psychological evaluations of Khalil or his wife. Khalil has 30 days from September 12 to appeal to the Bureau of Immigration Appeals before a final order of removal is entered against him and he loses his lawful permanent resident status. Orders from the federal court that prohibit the government from deporting or detaining Khalil as his civil court case is pending, remain in effect.

Khalil was detained by ICE after supporting Palestine during campus protests at Columbia University, which Secretary of State Marco Rubio claimed created foreign policy concerns. He sought $20 million in damages from the Trump administration for his detention under the Immigration and Naturalization Act in July. In May, a federal judge ruled the law used to begin removal proceedings against Khalil was constitutionally vague and allowed Khalil to rebut the case.

“It is no surprise that the Trump administration continues to retaliate against me for my exercise of free speech. Their latest attempt, through a kangaroo immigration court, exposes their true colors once again,” said Khalil in a press release.

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