The Trump administration’s attempt to deport anti-Israel activist Mahmoud Khalil has been temporarily blocked by a federal judge, setting the stage for a significant legal showdown. U.S. District Judge Michael Farbiarz issued a ruling on Wednesday, declaring that the government’s claim to enforce the deportation was unconstitutional, effectively allowing Khalil to remain in detention pending an appeal. Khalil, a green card holder, was arrested following his role in organizing student protests against Israel at Columbia University, which brought him to the attention of U.S. immigration authorities and the Department of Homeland Security (DHS).
The ruling came as DHS attorneys argued that Khalil’s free speech claims were a