Federal Court Reinstates Deportation Order for Mahmoud Khalil

Thu Jan 15 2026 20:45:51 GMT+0200 (Eastern European Standard Time)

A federal appeals court has reversed a lower court's decision, paving the way for the deportation of Mahmoud Khalil, a Palestinian activist and former Columbia University student, after a series of protests against Israeli actions.

A major legal battle for Palestinian activist Mahmoud Khalil continues as a federal appeals court has reversed a decision that granted him release from immigration detention. The court ruled that challenges to deportation must be handled in a higher court, benefiting the Trump administration's efforts to expel noncitizens involved in protests. Khalil's legal team is set to pursue all avenues to contest the ruling, claiming the deportation is a direct result of his advocacy for Palestinian rights.

The 3rd U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals in Philadelphia has ruled in favor of the federal government's request to reinstate immigrant Mahmoud Khalil's deportation order. This decision overturns a previous ruling by a New Jersey court that had allowed Khalil, a former Columbia University student and Palestinian activist, to remain free while contesting his immigration status.

The appeals court, in a 2-1 decision, stated that the law dictates deportation cases must be handled in a higher court rather than a district court, thus complicating Khalil's ability to fight the government's claims against him. Khalil's lawyers argue that the case symbolizes the U.S. government's broader crackdown on activists advocating for Palestinian rights.

Khalil, who was detained for three months in 2025 and missed the birth of his child, has been accused of aligning with Hamas—a claim his legal representatives assert lacks substantiation. Khalil has characterized his detention as a violation of his First Amendment rights, arguing that it results directly from his activism.

The ruling represents a significant victory for the Trump administration, which has been targeting protests against Israel, indicating that Khalil's fight is far from over as his legal team plans to appeal the decision.