ISLAMABAD: Mahmoud Khalil, a former Columbia University student and prominent leader in pro-Palestinian campus protests across the United States, was released Friday from a federal detention center after nearly three months in custody.
Khalil, a legal permanent resident married to a US citizen with a US-born son, had been facing potential deportation since his arrest in March.
Release and Court Ruling
The release came after a federal judge in Louisiana ordered Khalil’s freedom, sparking strong reactions from both sides.
Speaking outside the detention center in Jena, Louisiana, Khalil, wearing a Palestinian keffiyeh scarf, expressed relief and frustration.
“This shouldn’t have taken three months,” he told US media.
He criticized the previous Trump administration, stating, “There’s no right person who should be detained for actually protesting a genocide.”
However, the Department of Homeland Security condemned the judge’s ruling, calling it an example of the judiciary undermining national security.
Conditions of Release and Family Response
Under the court’s terms, Khalil must remain in the United States unless he chooses “self-deportation,” and faces travel restrictions within the country.
His wife, Noor Abdalla, a Michigan-born dentist, welcomed the news with hope.
She said the family could “finally breathe a sigh of relief” now that Mahmoud is on his way home.
Abdalla also highlighted the ongoing struggles faced by their family and others she said are targeted for speaking out against Israel’s treatment of Palestinians.
She gave birth to the couple’s first child while Khalil was in detention, underscoring the emotional toll of the ordeal.
