Noor Abdalla, the wife of detained Columbia University graduate student Mahmoud Khalil, expressed dismay over federal immigration officials’ decision to deny her husband’s request to attend the birth of their first child. This decision meant that Abdalla gave birth to their baby boy on Monday without Khalil by her side.
Khalil, a legal permanent resident of the United States, is currently held in a detention center in Louisiana. Abdalla has criticized the actions of immigration authorities, claiming they intentionally sought to cause distress to their family. She asserts that Khalil is being unjustly detained, accusing the administration of attempting to silence his advocacy for Palestinian freedom.
Khalil, a graduate student involved in activism, previously served as a spokesperson during significant demonstrations at Columbia University. These protests opposed Israel’s policies toward Palestinians and the conflict in Gaza. The federal government has labeled Khalil a national security risk, with a Louisiana immigration judge ruling that his presence in the U.S. could have serious foreign policy implications, thus meeting the criteria for deportation.
Khalil’s legal team plans to appeal the judge’s decision to the Board of Immigration Appeals. As of now, a response from immigration officials regarding Abdalla’s statements is pending.
