Louisiana Judge Rules Green Card Holder Can Be Deported Under Cold War-Era Law
A Louisiana immigration judge ruled that Mahmoud Khalil, a pro-Palestinian activist, can be deported, upholding Secretary of State Marco Rubio’s determination that Khalil’s activities threaten U.S. foreign policy goals. Rubio cited the McCarran-Walter Act, which allows the secretary of state to deport non-citizens whose presence undermines national interests, in making his decision. While the judge lacked authority to question Rubio’s assessment, Khalil’s attorneys plan to appeal the ruling and request a stay of deportation. Deportation could send Khalil to either Syria or Algeria.
John Q. Hosedrinker