Judge blocks NYC activist's deportation amid protests

A federal judge has temporarily blocked the deportation of Mahmoud Khalil, a pro-Palestinian activist and Columbia University graduate, while reviewing his petition against his arrest by ICE agents. Khalil was detained in New York over the weekend. Protests erupted in Lower Manhattan demanding Khalil's release, with demonstrators asserting their right to free speech. Khalil, a green card holder, is currently held in a Louisiana detention facility without formal charges. Columbia University has increased security on campus following Khalil's arrest. The situation has raised concerns about potential further actions by ICE against students involved in protests related to the Gaza conflict.