Khalil to Appeal US Deportation Case to Supreme Court

US Resident Appeals Deportation Case to Supreme Court

Mahmoud Khalil, a pro-Palestine advocate, has announced plans to appeal his deportation case to the Supreme Court. The decision comes after a federal appeals court declined to rehear Khalil’s challenge to his immigration detention in a 6-5 vote.

Khalil was detained by Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents in March 2025 on grounds related to his pro-Palestine advocacy. He has pursued two legal tracks since then, including a civil liberties challenge that resulted in a federal judge ordering his release from immigration detention and barring his deportation last June.

However, the federal appeals court later ruled that the initial ruling lacked jurisdiction over the matter. As a result, Khalil’s case will now be taken to the Supreme Court. The American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) has stated that they still believe in their arguments going forward, but acknowledge that the decision is not the final word.

Separately, Khalil’s legal team has been challenging his deportation in US immigration courts. Last month, the Board of Immigration Appeals issued a final order of removal, which Khalil’s lawyers have appealed. In a recent filing, they argued that new evidence indicates that Khalil’s case was subject to “apparent procedural abnormalities”, including being flagged as high priority before it arrived at the board.

Khalil’s lawyers claim that he is being targeted by the Trump administration due to his pro-Palestine advocacy. The administration has invoked a rare provision of the Immigration and Nationality Act, which allows for the deportation of individuals deemed to be a national security threat based on their past or current beliefs, statements, or associations.

The Board of Immigration Appeals has ruled that both grounds are valid for Khalil’s deportation, but he has never been charged with a crime. The administration has presented no evidence that he poses a national security threat.

Source: Al Jazeera