Columbia University protester Mahmoud Khalil freed from detention

Palestinian activist calls out Trump after 104 days in Louisiana facility

Palestinian activist Mahmoud Khalil speaks after his release from federal immigration detention in Jena, Louisiana on June 20. © AP

June 21, 2025 13:53 JST

JENA, Louisiana (AP) -- Palestinian activist Mahmoud Khalil was released Friday from federal immigration detention, freed after 104 days by a judge's ruling after becoming a symbol of President Donald Trump 's clampdown on campus protests.

The former Columbia University graduate student left a federal facility in Louisiana on Friday. He is expected to head to New York to reunite with his U.S. citizen wife and infant son, born while Khalil was detained.