Judge blocks deportation of Columbia pro-Palestinian leader

A federal judge in New York has temporarily stopped the deportation of Mahmoud Khalil, a Palestinian student at Columbia University. Khalil was arrested for leading pro-Palestinian protests following the October 7, 2023, Hamas attack on Israel. Judge Jesse M. Furman ordered that Khalil cannot be removed from the U.S. until further legal proceedings are completed. A hearing is scheduled for March 12 to discuss his case. Khalil's arrest has drawn criticism from Democrats and civil rights groups, who argue it suppresses free speech. The Trump administration has linked his detention to new policies targeting individuals supporting Hamas.