Mahmoud Khalil, a Columbia University graduate, missed the birth of his son this week. Despite urgent pleas from his attorneys, ICE denied his release from a Louisiana detention center, preventing him from traveling to New York.
Khalil’s legal team submitted a formal request to U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement on Sunday morning. They asked for a two-week furlough to allow Khalil to witness his son’s birth. His wife, a U.S. citizen, went into labor eight days ahead of schedule.
In their email, attorneys proposed strict conditions for Khalil’s temporary release. They offered GPS monitoring and regular check-ins during the furlough. Still, ICE denied his release within 30 minutes of receiving the request.
Melissa Harper, the ICE field office director in New Orleans, issued a brief denial. She stated that she reviewed the case and declined to grant the furlough. No further explanation followed.
Khalil’s arrest outside his New York residence last month sparked widespread controversy. Since then, he has remained in detention over 1,000 miles away from his family. He was able to hear the birth of his son over the phone, according to his legal team.
Although Khalil faces no criminal charges, federal officials have made serious allegations. The Department of Homeland Security claims Khalil supports terrorist groups. However, they have provided no evidence in court. An immigration judge recently ordered his removal, but his attorneys are appealing.
Additionally, they have filed a separate case in federal court to challenge his detention. Meanwhile, his wife Noor Abdalla issued a public statement. She called the government’s decision cruel and unjust.
“My son should not begin life without his father,” Abdalla said in her statement. “These precious moments were stolen from us.”
ICE denied his release, but Khalil’s legal team vows to continue fighting. They hope for a decision that reunites him with his family.
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