Columbia Anti-Israel protests the leader Mahmoud Khalil to remain detained in Louisiana

Mahmoud Khalil, one of the leaders of Anti-Israel The protests at Columbia University last year will remain in ICE custody for now after a hearing in a Federal Court in Manhattan on Wednesday.

The district judge Jesse Furman of the United States District Court for the Southern District of New York ordered that the 30 -year -old was not deported, while the Court considers the legal challenge presented by its lawyers.

Furman said Wednesday that his order not to deport Khalil was not based on the merits of the case, which has not yet been heard. The judge spoke during a hearing about the programming of reports on Khalil’s arrest While the protesters Carry Palestinian flags and signs gathered outside and demanded his release.

Khalil is in Louisiana after ice agents arrested him in his university apartment at the city’s Upper West Side on Saturday. The agents told him that they were revoking their green card and student visa, according to Khalil’s lawyers.

ICE agents arrest antiisraeli activist who directed protests to Columbia University for months

Federal Government lawyers argued that the place for the case will move from New York City to Louisiana or New Jersey, two locations where it has been arrested since ICE detained during the weekend.

Brandon Waterman, who represents the Department of Justice, argued that Khalil was not in New York or New Jersey when the initial and New York motions were presented is not the appropriate place.

Khalil’s lawyer, Ramsi Kassem, said they have not seen government documents, but want the case to be transferred to New Jersey, since Khalil was there when the motion was presented.

Anti -Semitic Riot in Columbia reaches the boiling point as the agitators take over the academic building, the barricades doors

Kassem said that access to his client is severely limited and is asking for “normal” access to his client, since he is inhibiting his ability to work in the case. The judge He said he was inclined to provide privileged access to Khalil and granted a privileged call today and a call tomorrow.

Furman, who described the legal problems as “important and heavy,” asked the two parties to present a joint letter on Friday that describes when they propose to present written arguments about the legal issues raised by the arrest of Khalil.

Kassem told Furman that Khalil was “identified, attacked and detained” due to his defense for Palestinian rights and his protected speech. He said that Khalil has no criminal convictions, but “for some reason, he is being arrested.”

Clock: The protest leader against the Israel of Columbia, Mahmoud Khalil, faces a judicial hearing on detention

Khalil’s lawyers intend to present an amended petition. They want an accelerated schedule to listen to the case on merits and have to present at 9 pm on Thursday with an answer for noon on Friday.

Khalil, who is a Palestinian raised in Syria and permanent resident of the United States, is married to an American citizen who currently has eight months pregnant.

Click here to get the Fox News application

The National Security Department said he made the arrest to protect the national security of the United States, and said that Khalil “directed activities aligned with Hamas, a designated terrorist organization.”

Khalil played a Main role in protests against Israel That the University of Columbia shook last year, and met with university officials in the name of the disinvestment of the apartheid of the University of Columbia, a group of groups of students who urged the university to disiniate from Israel, according to CNN.

The White House Press Secretary, Karoline Leavitt, defended the decision of the Trump administration to arrest Khalil and said she distributed Pro-Ahamas propaganda flyers on the campus.

Associated Press contributed to this report.