Mahmoud Khalil Court Appearance Moved to NJ – NJ Shall Defend Free Speech Now!
Repost from the Socialist Cause on Substack: Updates on Attempted Deportation of Mahmoud Khalil
Editor’s Note: Given news that Mahmoud Khalil’s court appearances are moved to NJ we in NJ hopefully can begin to prepare mobilizations for support. Please keep Editor@FightBackBetter.com aware of any support events.
This article was originally published with our sister publication, The Socialist Cause on Substack. Socialist Cause is a revolutionary Marxist blog aimed at educating the masses about socialist politics and exposing the crimes of the ruling class. The original article can be found here:
https://socialistvoice.substack.com/p/free-mahmoud-khalil-monday-updates
Case Moved to New Jersey
NEW YORK, March 19 (Reuters) – A U.S. judge ruled Wednesday that Columbia University student Mahmoud Khalil must remain in the United States for now, but his legal challenge against his arrest for participating in pro-Palestinian protests has been transferred to a court in New Jersey.
Manhattan-based U.S. District Judge Jesse Furman denied the Trump administration’s request to dismiss the case but agreed with the Justice Department that he lacked jurisdiction, as Khalil was detained in New Jersey when his lawyers first filed the challenge in New York.
New Jersey, a historically blue state, may offer a fairer legal landscape for Khalil’s case. The pro-Palestine movement in New Jersey is strong, but so is the pro-Zionist opposition. Both sides will exert significant pressure on the courts. However, while our opponents may resort to underhanded tactics, the pro-Palestine movement must maintain a peaceful and legal approach.
Mahmoud Khalil Appears in Court
JENA, La. (AP) – Columbia University student activist Mahmoud Khalil briefly appeared in immigration court Friday at a remote Louisiana detention center, as his legal team continues to fight for his release.
This development is crucial, as the administration could attempt to quietly deport or even endanger Khalil. A show of force like this is meant to intimidate others into silence.
An immigration judge has scheduled a full hearing for April 8, though it remains unclear whether it will take place in New Jersey or Louisiana.
More Immigrant Students Targeted for Deportation
A federal judge has blocked the Trump administration from deporting Badar Khan Suri, an Indian student at Georgetown University, after the government accused him of harming U.S. foreign policy.
According to the three-paragraph order from U.S. District Judge Patricia Giles in Alexandria, Virginia, the deportation order is on hold until further court action.
Several other Columbia students have also been targeted. One student, reportedly detained while walking home near a protest site, has opted to leave the U.S. rather than fight her case. Meanwhile, the Department of Homeland Security has released a video boasting about forcing a student to “self-deport.”
The Trump administration’s actions make it clear: immigrant students are being denied the right to free speech, particularly when advocating for Palestine. Those on student visas are being warned—engage in U.S. politics, and you risk deportation. The question remains whether Israeli student visa holders participating in AIPAC events will face the same scrutiny.
Federal Grants Used to Control University Curriculum
Meanwhile, universities themselves are capitulating to political pressure. Columbia University has agreed to hand over students that the administration demands and has also conceded to an overhaul of its academic programs, after the Trump administration revoked their federal grant money.
According to Columbia, a new senior vice provost will be appointed to review a wide range of programs, including:
- The Center for Palestine Studies
- The Institute for Israel and Jewish Studies
- Middle Eastern, South Asian, and African Studies
- The Middle East Institute
- The Tel Aviv and Amman global hubs
- The School of International and Public Affairs Middle East Policy major
The newly appointed provost, whose name has not yet been announced, will oversee these programs to ensure that “educational offerings are comprehensive and balanced” and will evaluate “all aspects of leadership and curriculum,” potentially leading to academic restructuring.
In effect, this move grants the Trump administration control over what is taught in these courses. Columbia University agreed to these terms in exchange for the reinstatement of federal grant money—despite the fact that it holds one of the largest endowments of any university in the world and could easily replace those funds from its own reserves.
By prioritizing federal funding over academic independence, Columbia and any other institution that surrenders to these demands have effectively become extensions of “Trump University 2.0.” If these universities are willing to exchange their integrity for government paychecks, their accreditation should be called into question. In the near future, it may be that private businesses run through the internet and providing education, such as Khan Academy and Brilliant may be more useful as sources of accreditation for both students and employers. If Columbia’s academic policy is governed by back room squabbling between Trump and The Board of Directors, then it is no longer an institution that can provide honest accreditation based on merit, which is what a college degree provides to both employers and employees.
Reports indicate Trump recommended Dolores Umbridge to fill the newly opened provost spot at Columbia, but after he was informed she was fictional, an open job search was called for.
