A federal appeals court has declined to revisit a ruling involving Mahmoud Khalil, a decision that could allow the Trump administration to detain and deport the former Columbia University student over his pro-Palestinian activism.
The 3rd U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals voted 6-5 on Friday to reject Khalil’s request for a rehearing. The ruling leaves in place a January decision by a three-judge panel that found a lower court lacked jurisdiction to order his release from immigration detention last year.
Khalil became one of the most visible figures targeted in the administration’s crackdown on foreign students involved in pro-Palestinian demonstrations on college campuses. Immigration authorities detained him in March 2025 after he played a prominent role in negotiations between Columbia University administrators and student protesters during the 2024 encampments.
Khalil, a lawful permanent resident married to a U.S. citizen, continues to challenge the government’s deportation efforts through separate immigration proceedings. Government attorneys have alleged he omitted information on his green card application, accusations his lawyers strongly dispute.
