**Judge Orders Transfer of Mahmoud Khalil’s Case**
A US court has rejected the Trump administration‘s bid to dismiss a Palestinian student activist’s legal challenge. The case will now be transferred from Louisiana to New Jersey.
Mahmoud Khalil, a US permanent resident and Columbia University graduate, was detained on March 8 for his role in campus protests against the war in Gaza. His lawyers had argued that he should be brought back to New York or New Jersey to face trial.
**Khalil Speaks Out from Detention**
In a letter from his detention facility, Khalil described himself as a “political prisoner” who was targeted for exercising his right to free speech. He was initially detained in a New Jersey immigration facility before being transferred to Louisiana.
The Trump administration had tried to have the case dismissed or moved to Louisiana, where one of the nation’s most conservative appellate courts is located. However, District Judge Jesse Furman ruled that the case must be transferred to New Jersey because it is the only district where Khalil could have filed his petition seeking release from detention.
**US Justice Department Silent**
The US justice department has not commented on the ruling. Khalil’s lawyer, Samah Sisay, said in a statement that the government moved him to Louisiana to avoid having the case heard in New York or New Jersey.
Read More @ www.bbc.com