A US judge has eased movement limitations within the US for Mahmoud Khalil, allowing him to speak at gatherings and other engagements across the country while he contests efforts to remove him.
The activist, who was freed from a US immigration jail in June after being arrested by federal agents amid student and activist roundups, had petitioned a judicial authority to remove the restrictions that had confined his movement to certain locations.
At a virtual hearing, his legal representative stated that her the activist “wants to move for the very significant first amendment reasons that are at the heart of this case.”
“He wants to speak issues of public interest,” the lawyer noted, citing the constitutional protection to free speech.
Mahmoud Khalil on exile, liberation and federal custody: ‘It was a blatant act of cruelty’
However, the federal attorney, who opposed the move, argued that Khalil “has not offered enough of a justification why he couldn’t participate in these and other events telephonically.”
The judge the presiding official consented to permit the activist to travel, stating that he was not deemed a flight risk and had not violated any of his bail terms.
The magistrate concurred with the prosecution that the individual is obligated to alert Immigration and Customs Enforcement about his travel plans.
The activist, who is a lawful US permanent resident, was detained by federal officers in early spring following his participation in activist protests at the university, an prestigious school in New York.
The administration asserts it had the authority to arrest and remove him, arguing that his presence in the United States is a risk to national security. A second claim is that he omitted details about his work history and membership in groups on his application for a green card.
Following his release, the activist said he intended to continue his criticism of the institution for what activists view as its acquiescence to government directives to curb specific expression and address concerns against students on university grounds.
