Urgent Action Outcome: Mahmoud Khalil released on bail

On 20 June 2025, a US federal judge ordered Mahmoud Khalil’s release from immigration detention as his legal proceedings continue in immigration and federal courts. On 8 March, US immigration authorities unlawfully arrested and arbitrarily detained Mahmoud, a lawful permanent resident, Palestinian activist and student organizer who recently graduated from Columbia University. Mahmoud was targeted for his role in student protests at Columbia University, where he was exercising his rights to freedom of expression and peaceful assembly protesting Israel’s genocide in Occupied Palestinian Territory.

NO FURTHER ACTION IS REQUESTED. MANY THANKS TO ALL WHO SENT APPEALS.

Mahmoud Khalil is a Palestinian activist and graduate student at Columbia University when he was active with Columbia's Gaza Solidarity Encampment, serving as a negotiator with the university and regularly spoke to the press. He is also a lawful US permanent resident and is married to a US citizen who gave birth to their first child in April. On March 8, 2025, immigration agents arrested Mahmoud at his university apartment, claiming his permanent residency status was revoked, and threatened to arrest his pregnant wife. Mahmoud was temporarily held in immigration detention in New Jersey and then transferred to an immigration facility in Louisiana without notice to counsel or his wife. Mahmoud’s residency was denied on a rarely used portion of immigration law proclaiming his continued presence in the USA poses “serious foreign policy consequences”. An immigration judge in Louisiana has since ruled that Mahmoud can be deported on these grounds and subsequently denied his claim for asylum on 20 June. Mahmoud is appealing that decision.   

On 11 June, a US District Court judge in New Jersey ruled that the government’s continued detention of Mahmoud based on foreign policy grounds was probably unconstitutional but that he could remain detained on other grounds. The US government informed the court that they would continue to detain Mahmoud based on secondary claims that he failed to disclose information when he applied for permanent residency – which Mahmoud and his attorneys have repeatedly denied. On 20 June, the judge determined that his continued detention on these new grounds was “highly unusual” and ordered him released on bail with specific conditions while his immigration case continues in immigration court and collateral legal challenges in federal court continue in New Jersey. Mahmoud was released later that day. The US government immediately filed an appeal of the decision and vowed to continue pursuing his deportation. Mahmoud later stated: "Your messages have kept me going. Still the fight is far from over, the genocide is still happening in Gaza, Israel is still waging a full war against Palestine. The U.S. government is funding this genocide, and Columbia University is investing in this genocide. This is why I was protesting, this is why I will continue protesting with every one of you, not only if they threaten me with detention. Even if they would kill me, I would still speak up for Gaza."

Amnesty International is in communication with Mahmoud’s attorneys and will issue the next action related to his immigration case in the near future. Thank you to all who took action on this case. 

NAME AND PREFFERED PRONOUN: Name (preferred pronouns) Mahmoud Khalil, He/Him

THIS IS THE SECOND AND FINAL OUTPUT FOR UA 25/25

LINK TO PREVIOUS UA: https://www.amnesty.org/en/documents/amr51/9127/2025/en/