Mahmoud Khalil, a Columbia University student, will remain in detention despite a court order. The Trump administration, in a June 13th court filing, revealed its intention to continue Khalil’s detainment, citing alternate legal grounds. This decision comes just two days after U.S. District Judge Michael Farbiarz issued an order prohibiting Khalil’s detention or removal.

Justice Department attorneys, in a letter to Judge Farbiarz, argued that while the judge’s order prevented Khalil’s detention based on the Secretary of State’s determination, other legal justifications exist for his continued confinement. The letter explicitly stated, “The Court did not order Respondents to release Petitioner Mahmoud Khalil. The Court instead enjoined Respondents from detaining Khalil ‘based on the Secretary of State’s determination.'”

Khalil’s case has drawn significant attention due to his allegations of retaliation stemming from his activism concerning the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. The administration’s continued pursuit of his detention, despite the judge’s initial ruling, raises important questions about the limits of executive power and due process.