Columbia University Student Khalil’s Request to Witness the Birth of His Baby Denied, as Wife Gives Birth to a Son.

Columbia University Student Khalil’s Request to Witness the Birth of His Baby Denied, as Wife Gives Birth to a Son.

The news as it trends.

Dr. Noor Abdalla, age 28, gave birth yesterday, on Monday, April 21, 2025, in New York City.

The joyous occasion was overshadowed by the absence of her husband, Mahmoud Khalil, 30, a political detainee held in an ICE detention facility in Louisiana.

Khalil was denied the chance to witness the birth of his son.

Dr. Abdalla, a Michigan-born dentist and advocate for Palestinian rights, met Khalil while he was a graduate student at Columbia University.

Originally from Palestine, Khalil spent time in a refugee camp in Syria before being granted permanent U.S. residency last year.

His sudden arrest and detention have shocked many, especially as he remains detained in Louisiana despite a court order transferring his case to New Jersey.

Khalil rose to prominence in 2024 as a mediator during pro-Palestinian protests at Columbia University.

His leadership in the Revolt for Rafah encampment drew federal scrutiny, and on March 8, 2025, he was arrested inside his university residence, as confirmed by video footage.

Despite holding a green card, Khalil was detained under a rarely used federal law invoked by Secretary of State Marco Rubio, which allows the deportation of noncitizens deemed to have potentially serious adverse foreign policy consequences.

As Abdalla prepared to give birth, her legal team petitioned for Khalil’s temporary release, proposing strict monitoring conditions, including an ankle GPS tracker.

However, ICE Field Office Director Melissa Harper rejected the request within 30 minutes, stating that Khalil’s detention did not warrant temporary release.

Khalil missed the birth of his son, experiencing the moment only through a phone call from his detention center in Jena, Louisiana, over 1,000 miles away.

Dr. Abdalla expressed her outrage through press statements and interviews, stating, “My son and I should not be navigating his first days on earth without Mahmoud.

ICE and the Trump administration have stolen these precious moments from our family in an attempt to silence Mahmoud’s support for Palestinian freedom.”

Her statement has resonated with supporters, fueling outrage over Khalil’s detention.

Advocacy groups argue that Khalil’s detention is politically motivated and a direct attempt to suppress his free speech.

His legal team continues to fight for his release, appealing a Louisiana judge’s ruling that deemed him removable based on unverified reports.

A federal judge recently ruled that Khalil’s case should proceed in New Jersey, temporarily blocking his deportation.

However, Khalil still remains detained in Louisiana, far from his family and legal counsel, despite the court order to have him moved to New Jersey.

As protests grow and legal battles intensify, Khalil’s case has sparked a broader conversation about students, immigration policy, political activism, freedom of speech, and human rights on American soil.

Advocates say the fight for justice continues.

Yetunde B reports for Yeyetunde’s Blog.

Dr. Noor Abdallar / Justice 4 Palestine on IG.