The Trump administration failed to silence pro-Palestinian voices, declared activist Mahmoud Khalil after his release from immigration detention. Khalil, a prominent figure in Columbia University’s pro-Palestinian protests, spent over three months in a Louisiana detention center before a judge ordered his release.
“My existence is a message to the Trump administration,” Khalil said. “All their attempts to suppress us have failed.” His arrest on March 8 sparked widespread protests in New York and Washington, DC. The US government seeks to deport him, claiming his activism undermines foreign policy.
Speaking at Newark Airport, Khalil vowed to keep fighting for Palestinian rights and detained immigrants. “They tried to dehumanize us,” he said, holding flowers from supporters. As he left the press conference, he pushed his newborn son’s stroller—a child born while he was imprisoned—and shouted, “Free Palestine!”
New York Congresswoman Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez joined him, arguing that his release proves the administration is losing its legal battle. “They know they’re violating the law,” she said. “These detentions are just intimidation tactics.”
Khalil’s case mirrors others, like Tufts University student Rumeysa Ozturk, detained after criticizing Israel in a campus article. Though released on bail, her deportation case continues. Legal experts say the administration is targeting activists to stifle dissent.
A federal judge ruled Khalil wasn’t a flight risk, ordering his release pending further hearings. However, the White House insists the ruling overstepped jurisdiction and plans to appeal. “We expect to win on appeal,” a spokeswoman said.
Khalil’s case highlights growing tensions over free speech and immigration enforcement. While his release is a setback for the administration, the broader crackdown continues. The Trump administration failed to silence pro-Palestinian voices, but the legal battles are far from over.
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