Judge Frees Anti-Israel Activist Mahmoud Khalil on Bail Amid Free Speech Clash

In a striking decision, a federal judge in New Jersey has ordered the release on bail of Mahmoud Khalil, an anti-Israel activist detained for three months amid contentious immigration and civil disputes. Judge Michael Farbiarz, appointed by President Biden, ruled that Khalil poses neither a flight risk nor a threat to the community, calling his prolonged detention "highly unusual" under the circumstances.

Khalil, a lawful permanent resident and Columbia University student, was arrested in March at his campus apartment. His case has sparked fierce debate, with supporters arguing his detention in a Louisiana immigration facility is a retaliatory move by the Trump administration to silence his vocal criticism of Israel’s actions in Gaza and its tensions with Iran. Khalil’s wife, a U.S. citizen, and their newborn child have been separated from him during his confinement.

The government’s push to deport Khalil hinges on two claims. First, a memo from Secretary of State Marco Rubio cited an obscure immigration law, alleging Khalil’s campus activism clashed with U.S. foreign policy. Judge Farbiarz blocked this as a basis for deportation, questioning its constitutionality. Second, the Department of Homeland Security accuses Khalil of omitting ties to groups like Columbia University Apartheid Divest on his green card application, a charge still pending in immigration court.

Khalil’s case has galvanized immigration rights advocates and anti-Israel protesters, who see it as an attempt to curb free speech. The administration, however, insists Khalil’s activism signaled support for Hamas, a designated terrorist group, and violated immigration laws.

As Khalil awaits release, possibly as early as Friday, his case underscores the volatile intersection of free expression, immigration policy, and international politics. The outcome could set a precedent for how dissent is handled in America’s increasingly polarized landscape.