US Immigration Appeals Board Denies Mahmoud Khalil's Bid to Dismiss Deportation Case
The Board of Immigration Appeals has denied Palestinian activist Mahmoud Khalil's request to dismiss his deportation case, advancing proceedings toward potential removal.
The U.S. Board of Immigration Appeals has denied Palestinian activist Mahmoud Khalil's latest request to dismiss his deportation case, moving him closer to potential removal. Khalil, a former Columbia University graduate student and legal permanent U.S. resident, has been under scrutiny for his pro-Palestinian activism.
Khalil's attorneys argue that the deportation proceedings are retaliatory and infringe upon his First Amendment rights. They maintain that he cannot be lawfully detained or deported while his separate federal habeas corpus case is ongoing.
In a related development, the Trump administration has dismissed two immigration judges, Roopal Patel and Nina Froes, who had previously blocked the deportation of pro-Palestinian international students. These firings are part of a broader pattern, with approximately 100 immigration judges dismissed since 2025.
The Department of Justice has not publicly disclosed the reasons for these dismissals. Critics suggest that the administration's actions may be aimed at influencing the immigration court system's decisions.
Khalil, born in Syria to Palestinian parents and holding Algerian citizenship, continues to contest the deportation proceedings, asserting that his activism is protected under free speech rights.