"The court orders the defendant removed from the United States to Algeria or Syria", Louisiana immigration judge Jamee Comans stated in a ruling on 12/9 regarding Mahmoud Khalil. This information wasn't made public until 18/9.

In the ruling, the judge asserted that Khalil's omissions on his green card application "were not due to lack of understanding or sophistication, but rather the court finds that the defendant willfully misrepresented material facts in order to defraud the immigration process and decrease the likelihood of his green card application being denied".

Mahmoud Khalil at a protest in Manhattan, New York on 22/6. Photo: AFP

Mahmoud Khalil at a protest in Manhattan, New York on 22/6. Photo: AFP

In response to the court's decision, Khalil stated, "It is no surprise that the Trump administration continues to retaliate against me for exercising my right to free speech". "This latest attempt further exposes their true nature," Khalil said.

Khalil's lawyers said they will appeal.

The 30-year-old Khalil, of Palestinian origin and Algerian nationality, is a former Columbia University student and a legal permanent resident of the US. He is married to a US citizen and has a son born in the US. He was one of the most prominent leaders of the nationwide protests supporting Palestine in response to the Israel-Hamas conflict earlier this year.

Khalil was detained by immigration authorities in March and was granted bail on 20/6 after an intense legal battle, but still faces deportation. Under a rarely used provision of immigration law, the US Secretary of State has the authority to deport anyone deemed to have a negative impact on Washington's foreign policy.

Former President Donald Trump characterized the protests against the Gaza conflict as "anti-Semitic" and pledged to deport participating international students. Khalil became the first target of this policy. His arrest sparked outrage from civil rights and pro-Palestinian groups.

Huyen Le (AFP, Reuters)