Judge's Ruling Will Help Mahmoud Khalil Against Ongoing Attempt to Deport Him

"A Reagan-appointed judge has issued a scathing ruling rebuking the Trump administration's targeting of pro-Palestine students. Judge William G. Young called the case AAUP v. Rubio "perhaps the most important ever to fall within the jurisdiction of this district court" and ruled that contrary to the State Department's claims, "non-citizens lawfully present here in [the] United States actually have the same free speech rights as the rest of us.""

""If free speech means anything in this country, it means masked government agents can't pick you up off the street and throw you into jail because of what you've said," explains Abdo. He adds that the ruling will help support Khalil against the Trump administration's ongoing attempt to deport him. Details that emerged during the trial revealed that the Trump administration is continuing to target Khalil "to make an example out of me.""

U.S. District Judge William G. Young issued a 161-page decision condemning government actions that targeted pro-Palestinian international students and academics. The ruling found that non-citizens lawfully present in the United States retain the same free speech rights as citizens and criticized enforcement practices that led to arrests based on political expression. The case arose after the detention and attempted deportation of Palestinian activist Mahmoud Khalil and was brought by the AAUP with support from the Knight First Amendment Institute. Trial evidence indicated continued efforts to single out Khalil so officials could "make an example" of him, and the decision strengthens his defense against deportation.

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