According to Reuters, an immigration judge ordered pro-Palestinian activist Mahmoud Khalil to be deported to either Algeria or Syria because of allegations that he omitted information from his green card application, as stated in court documents released on Wednesday. Immigration judge Jamee Comans ruled that Khalil “willfully misrepresented material facts for the sole purpose of circumventing the immigration process and reducing the likelihood his application would be denied.”

Khalil’s lawyers submitted a letter to a federal court in New Jersey overseeing his civil rights case, stating that they plan to challenge Comans’ decision. Khalil, a 30-year-old Palestinian American and Columbia University student, was detained by U.S. immigration authorities for more than 100 days earlier this year as the Trump administration attempted to deport him. His wife, a U.S. citizen, was pregnant at the time, and Khalil missed the birth of their child while in jail. He was released on June 20.

U.S. District Judge Michael Farbiarz of New Jersey stated at the time, referring to Khalil, that punishing someone over a civil immigration matter was unconstitutional. The Trump administration has taken action against pro-Palestinian protesters like Khalil, calling them antisemitic and extremists. Protesters, including some Jewish groups, argue that the government “wrongly equates” their criticism of Israel’s actions in Gaza and the Palestinian territories with antisemitism, and their advocacy for Palestinian rights with support for extremism.

“It’s no surprise that the Trump administration continues to retaliate against me for exercising my free speech,” Khalil said. When their initial attempt to deport him was likely to fail, they resorted to fabricating baseless and ridiculous allegations to silence him for speaking out and standing firmly with Palestine, demanding an end to the ongoing genocide. Rights groups express concern over free speech and due process during deportation efforts and federal funding threats to universities where protests took place.

Columbia was at the center of last year’s protests that demanded an end to Israel’s war and a divestment by universities of funds from companies that support Israel.