US judge orders pro-Palestinian protest leader Khalil deported to Algeria or Syria

US judge orders pro-Palestinian protest leader Khalil deported to Algeria or Syria

The immigration judge stated that the lack of full disclosure on Khalil's green card application was not an oversight, but rather a wilful misrepresentation of material facts.

Former Columbia University student and pro-Palestinian protest leader Mahmoud Khalil at a press conference outside the Cathedral of St. John the Divine in New York earlier this year. (AFP pic)
WASHINGTON:
A judge in the southern US state of Louisiana has ordered prominent pro-Palestinian protest leader Mahmoud Khalil to be deported to Algeria or Syria after failing to disclose information on his green card application, according to court documents filed Wednesday

“It is hereby further ordered that Respondent be Re

moved from the United States to Algeria, or in the alternative to Syria,” Judge Jamee Comans wrote in a court filing.

The order dated Sept 12 by the immigration judge asserted the lack of full disclosure on Khalil’s green card application “was not an oversight by an uninformed, uneducated applicant…rather, this Court finds that Respondent willfully misrepresented material fact(s).”

Khalil, in a statement to the American Civil Liberties Union, said in response to the order: “It is no surprise that the Trump administration continues to retaliate against me for my exercise of free speech.”

“Their latest attempt, through a kangaroo immigration court, exposes their true colors once again.”

Khalil, a legal permanent resident in the United States who is married to a US citizen and has a US-born son, was detained by immigration for three months beginning in March and faced potential deportation.

A former Columbia University student who was one of the most visible leaders of nationwide pro-Palestinian campus protests, he was released from custody in June, but faced continued threats of deportation from federal authorities.

Stay current - Follow FMT on WhatsApp, Google news and Telegram

Subscribe to our newsletter and get news delivered to your mailbox.