Mahmoud Khalil says government using immigration court to 'control process' and remove him

Mahmoud Khalil accused the Trump administration of trying to detain him again by using immigration court as a so-called "kangaroo court ...because they know they can control the process."The pro-Palestinian activist's comments to reporters on Tuesday came after his attorneys appeared before the Third Circuit Court of Appeals over his habeas corpus petition challenging the legality of his detention.

A lower court ruling has blocked the government from removing him from the United States.Khalil, a green card holder married to an American citizen, was arrested by ICE agents in New York City in March.At the time of his arrest, ICE agents told Khalil that he was being detained because his student visa had been revoked.

He told officers he was a lawful permanent resident not on a student visa, but he was detained anyway.He was held in a Louisiana detention facility until a federal judge ordered his release in June.He has vowed to continue advocating for Palestinian rights.Khalil told reporters he is feeling "confident" that he will be vindicated in federal court."The government lawyers were defending the indefensible … being literally detained for over 100 days for literally protesting a genocide.

They don't have anything other than that.That's why they're choosing a kangaroo court, which is the immigration court, because they know they can control that process," Khalil said.Former Columbia Univrsity student Mahmoud Khalil raises his fist after speaking to the press as he arrives at Newark airport in Newark, N.J., June 21, 2025.Kena Betancur/AFP via Getty ImagesHe added, "The Trump administration is still trying to re-detain me.

They're trying to stop the federal court from looking at my case because they know they don't have a case against me.So we'll keep fighting the legal fight until the end."Judge finds Trump administration violated constitutional rights of pro-Palestinian protestersA New Jersey District Court judge previously blocked the government from remo...