A judge granted Columbia University activist Mahmoud Khalil’s legal team more time to review his immigration case following his arrest by ICE earlier this month.
A judge granted Columbia University activist Mahmoud Khalil’s legal team more time to review his immigration case during a hearing Friday in Louisiana.
Khalil, a 30-year-old green card holder who is married to a U.S. citizen, was arrested by Immigration and Customs Enforcement officials on March 8. He is facing possible deportation over his alleged support for the Palestinian terrorist group Hamas, although he has not been charged with a crime.
The judge at Lasalle Immigration Court in Jena said she thinks Khalil “deserves more time” to prepare before a pleading and delayed further proceedings until April 8.
A lawyer representing the Department of Homeland Security originally objected to the matter, arguing that Khalil is being “held at the government’s expense.” However, Khalil’s attorney told the judge that “these are serious charges, we need time to review.
