Pro-Palestinian Activist Mahmoud Khalil Claims Victory After Release from Detention**

Mahmoud Khalil, a Columbia University activist, declares his release from immigration detention a success against efforts to marginalize pro-Palestinian voices. Joined by supporters, he affirms his commitment to continue fighting for immigrant and Palestinian rights.**

Columbia University activist Mahmoud Khalil has emerged from more than three months of immigration detention, asserting that the Trump administration's attempts to stifle pro-Palestinian activism have backfired. Speaking from Newark, New Jersey, after his release from a Louisiana facility, Khalil proclaimed, "My existence is a message" regarding the failure of the administration to silence dissenting voices.

Khalil, known for his prominent participation in pro-Palestinian protests at Columbia, was arrested on March 8, an event that has sparked rallies in major cities including New York and Washington, D.C. The U.S. government seeks his deportation, claiming his activism is contrary to its foreign policy aims. Nevertheless, upon his release, Khalil pledged to continue advocating for Palestinian rights and support for immigrants who remain in detention.

At a press conference, he was vocal about the administration's strategy to "dehumanise" dissenters, holding flowers gifted by supporters while cradling his newborn son, who was born during his detention. The event was attended by New York Representative Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, who praised Khalil’s victory as a sign the administration is losing its legal fight against activists like him.

Ocasio-Cortez asserted that Khalil's release exemplifies the administration's violations of the law in its efforts to intimidate migrants advocating for Palestinian rights. The activist's release came after a judge determined he posed no danger or flight risk, allowing his immigration proceedings to continue unfettered. Despite the ruling, the Trump administration plans to appeal, with White House spokeswoman Abigail Jackson maintaining that the federal judge lacked jurisdiction in this matter.

As legal battles continue for activists like Khalil and student Rumeysa Ozturk, advocates remain hopeful that this moment signals a shift in the landscape of immigrant rights and freedom of expression in the United States.