NEWARK, NEW JERSEY, US - MARCH 28, 2025: Hundreds of people gathered in front of the federal court in Newark, New Jersey, US, on Friday (March 28) in support of detained Columbia University graduate Mahmoud Khalil. Lawyers for the U.S. Justice Department and imprisoned Khalil appeared in federal court to argue over the jurisdiction of his petition for release. Khalil, a graduate student involved in last year’s Gaza protests, was arrested this month. The Trump administration used a clause in the Immigration and Nationality Act of 1952 to justify his detention, claiming his presence could harm US foreign policy, and is seeking his deportation. Khalil, an Algerian citizen of Palestinian descent, filed a lawsuit to contest his deportation. His attorney said the government is targeting his "constitutionally protected speech and advocacy on behalf of Palestinian human rights," warning that if dissenting speech leads to deportation, "we’re all in pretty serious trouble." The Trump administration filed new allegations against Khalil, claiming he hid information about his membership in certain groups and his job at the Syria Office in the British Embassy. Khalil’s lawyer denied the claims, stating his internships were approved by Columbia. Khalil’s wife called the allegations "ridiculous," saying the government is "grasping at straws." Khalil's detention led to national outrage, with other students also arrested or facing visa issues. The Trump administration also stripped Columbia of $400 million in federal grants. In response, Columbia agreed to several demands, including hiring more security officers. The American Association of University Professors and the American Federation of Teachers on Tuesday sued, claiming the funding threats violate academic freedom.