The judge overseeing a lawsuit in New Jersey challenging the detention of Mahmoud Khalil, a pro-Palestinian activist facing deportation, denied the government’s motion to dismiss the case. Judge Michael Fabiarz asserted jurisdiction over the matter, citing Khalil’s presence in New Jersey when the petition was filed on his behalf in New York. The petition claims Khalil’s detention violates his due process and First Amendment rights. Despite government claims that Khalil’s case should be moved to Louisiana, Fabiarz maintained jurisdiction over the case in New Jersey. Khalil, a permanent U.S. resident, has been held in a Louisiana detention center since his March 8 arrest on allegations related to his activism. The Justice Department accused Khalil of not disclosing his affiliation with certain organizations as grounds for his deportation, but Khalil’s attorneys refuted these claims as “silly” and argued that he is being punished for his constitutionally protected speech. A federal judge in New York initially reviewing Khalil’s petition barred his deportation while proceedings are ongoing, noting the seriousness of the allegations. Khalil’s attorneys celebrated Fabiarz’s decision as a positive step against attempts to manipulate jurisdiction to detain individuals facing deportation.
————————————————————————
Note: The image is for illustrative purposes only and is not the original image associated with the presented article. Due to copyright reasons, we are unable to use the original images. However, you can still enjoy the accurate and up-to-date content and information provided.
————————————————————————
