Federal appeals court sides with Trump admin in judge's Mahmoud Khalil decision
A federal appeals court ruled Thursday that a lower court judge lacked authority in ordering the release of anti-Israel activist Mahmoud Khalil, siding with the Trump administration in a closely...
By Fox News · Fox News
A federal appeals court ruled Thursday that a lower court judge lacked authority in ordering the release of anti-Israel activist Mahmoud Khalil, siding with the Trump administration in a closely watched immigration case. In a 2-1 decision, a three-judge panel of the 3rd U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals ruled that U.S. District Judge Michael Farbiarz of New Jersey lacked "subject-matter jurisdiction" under federal immigration law to halt the Trump administration’s effort to remove Khalil. Khalil was ordered to be released from the government’s detention on June 20 after he was arrested at his New York City apartment by special agents from Homeland Security Investigations in early March. White House spokeswoman Abigail Jackson told Fox News Digital in a statement: "Mahmoud Khalil was given the privilege of coming to America to study on a student visa he obtained by fraud and misrepresentation. As we have always maintained, the Executive Branch has the lawful authority to take actions that will protect the public and to ensure the integrity of our immigration system." FEDERAL JUDGE SIDES WITH ANTI-ISRAEL RINGLEADER MAHMOUD KHALIL, HALTS TRUMP ADMINISTRATION'S DEPORTATION BID "Khalil obtained his visa by willfully and intentionally failing to accurately report information relevant to his background. Those who lie to the government to obtain entry into the United States will face justice," Jackson said. Judges Thomas Hardiman, a George W. Bush appointee, and Stephanos Bibas, a Donald Trump appointee, argued that the district court initially had habeas jurisdiction over Khalil’s petition but ultimately lacked "subject-matter jurisdiction" under the Immigration and Nationality Act to intervene in his removal proceedings. "Our holdings vindicate essential principles of habeas and immigration law. The scheme Congress enacted governing immigration proceedings provides Khalil a meaningful forum in which to raise his claims later on — in a petition for review of a final order of…