Judge Rules Trump’s Deportation Push Against Anti-Israel Activist Mahmoud Khalil Likely Unconstitutional

In a striking decision from New Jersey, U.S. District Judge Michael Farbiarz has ruled that the Trump administration's attempt to deport anti-Israel activist Mahmoud Khalil likely violates constitutional principles. The judge stopped short of ordering Khalil's release but described the deportation order as potentially "unconstitutionally vague." This ruling throws a wrench into the administration’s efforts, raising questions about the balance between national security and free speech.

Khalil, a 30-year-old green card holder born in a Palestinian refugee camp in Syria, has been a vocal figure in anti-Israel protests at Columbia University. His legal team celebrated the ruling, accusing Secretary of State Marco Rubio of weaponizing immigration law to silence dissent. Rubio, however, insists the arrest was justified, citing Khalil’s "anti-Semitic protests and disruptive activities" and alleged visa application fraud, including failing to disclose past employment at the Syrian office in the British Embassy in Beirut.

The Department of Homeland Security argues Khalil’s free speech claims are a distraction, emphasizing his alleged misrepresentations during the visa process. Meanwhile, Khalil, married to U.S. citizen Noor Abdalla and expecting a child, has publicly decried the administration’s actions as an assault on his rights. The case, now a flashpoint in the immigration debate, underscores the tension between individual freedoms and government authority.