The AMADOU LY FOUNDATION traveled to Jena, Louisiana urging ICE to release Mahmoud Khalil and other detained immigrants
Outside the Central Louisiana ICE Processing Center in Jena, a national interfaith delegation, including the Amadou Ly Foundation, faith leaders and activists, held a press conference on June 13, urging the release of Mahmoud Khalil and other detained immigrants.
Government says Mahmoud Khalil will not be released from ICE custody
By Colin Vedros and KALB Digital Team
Published: Jun. 13, 2025 at 6:38 AM PDTUpdated: Jun. 13, 2025 at 4:37 PM PDT
JENA, La. (KALB) - Mahmond Khalil, a pro-Palestinian activist and former graduate student, who has been in ICE custody in Jena since early March, will remain in their custody for now.
The federal government claims Khalil poses “adverse foreign policy consequences” after leading pro-Palestine protests on the campus of Columbia University.
On June 11, New Jersey Federal Judge Michael Farbiarz ruled that Khalil cannot be deported or detained for foreign policy reasons as argued by the Trump Administration and ordered his release to go into effect on June 13.
RELATED: Federal judge rules Mahmoud Khalil cannot be detained or deported
On June 13, NBC News reported that Farbiarz rejected Khalil’s request for release. The U.S. Department of Justice argued that “while Khalil can’t be detained based on (Secretary of State Marco) Rubio’s determination, according to the judge’s ruling, he can be detained for other reasons.”
Khalil’s legal team shared the following in response to the denial of his release.
“Mahmoud Khalil was detained in retaliation for his advocacy for Palestinian rights. The government is now using cruel, transparent delay tactics to keep him away from his wife and newborn son ahead of their first Father’s Day as a family. Instead of celebrating together, he is languishing in ICE detention as punishment for his advocacy on behalf of his fellow Palestinians. It is unjust, it is shocking, and it is disgraceful.”
Outside the Central Louisiana ICE Processing Center in Jena, a national interfaith delegation, including faith leaders and activists, held a press conference on June 13, urging the release of Khalil and other detained immigrants.
Carolyn Yao, with Pastors of Peace, was in attendance and stated, “What we see now…Mahmood Khalil’s case is a perfect example of the stripping away of due process, which is a basic democratic right. Also knowing that he in particular…there was a political reason for his detainment…People are really resonating with this case and also resonating with the fact that we’re seeing a lot of our public funds shifting to war, shifting towards these arms that we’re sending around the world, really for no good reason than to just bomb people.”
The Freedom Ride, a protest by over 20 faith leaders and activists, began in Newark, New Jersey, and has since made stops in various cities to highlight what they feel are repressive attacks against immigrants, leading to its final destination in Jena.
Community organizer Amadou Ly was also in Jena and shared, “We’re all immigrants at some point or the other, and I believe that if the natives were extremely not welcoming, maybe America wouldn’t be as it is right now. So, we’re fighting not just for him, but if people who are Caucasian were in this situation, we would also step up and fight for that. It’s not a matter of race.”
Khalil gained permanent residency status in November 2024.
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