Mahmoud Khalil, the Columbia University graduate student widely known for his pro-Hamas activism, may walk free as early as Friday morning after a federal judge ruled that the U.S. government cannot continue to detain or deport him based on foreign policy concerns raised by Secretary of State Marco Rubio.

Khalil was arrested on March 8 in the lobby of his university-owned apartment in New York and swiftly transported to a remote ICE detention facility in Jena, Louisiana. The arrest came just days after viral footage showed Khalil at the helm of several radical anti-Israel protests on Columbia’s campus, where he was frequently seen shouting incendiary slogans, defending Hamas, and leading chants like “Globalize the Intifada.”

His detention sparked outrage from left-wing activists and civil liberties groups, who claimed the Trump administration was targeting Khalil for his political views. Khalil’s legal team argued that his continued detention was causing “irreparable harm” to his academic career, personal life, and constitutional right to free speech.

U.S. District Judge Michael Farbiarz, presiding in New Jersey, sided with Khalil. In a ruling issued Wednesday, the judge blocked the federal government from holding or deporting Khalil based solely on Secretary Rubio’s determination that Khalil’s presence in the U.S. poses a threat to foreign policy interests. Farbiarz set Khalil’s release at a symbolic $1 bond and gave the federal government until Friday to file an appeal.

If no appeal is filed, Khalil could be released as early as Friday morning.

Khalil’s critics, including several members of Congress, have accused him of using his Ivy League platform to normalize violent anti-Israel rhetoric and glorify terrorist organizations. He has repeatedly refused to condemn Hamas, even after the group’s October 7 massacre of Israeli civilians. On multiple occasions, Khalil was seen at Columbia protests where flags of Hamas and Hezbollah were openly displayed, and chants called for an intifada—a violent uprising.

Security experts have warned that individuals like Khalil, who openly praise U.S.-designated terrorist groups while maintaining a public presence on elite campuses, present more than just a free speech issue—they pose a broader threat to public safety and national security.

“Free speech ends where material support for terrorism begins,” said one security expert. “Khalil isn’t just chanting—he’s organizing and radicalizing.”

While the ruling is a win for Khalil’s legal team, Judge Farbiarz left open the possibility that Khalil could still be detained or removed from the U.S. on different grounds. Specifically, immigration authorities have alleged that Khalil failed to disclose certain associations when applying for his green card—a potentially serious violation of federal immigration law.

That aspect of the case remains unresolved, meaning Khalil’s legal battles are likely far from over. Still, barring an emergency appeal by Friday, the activist may be out on the streets of New York in less than 48 hours.

Critics warn that his release could further embolden extremist student groups across the country. “Mahmoud Khalil should not be viewed as a martyr for free speech,” said one campus watchdog group. “He is a symbol of how radical ideologies are taking root in American institutions—shielded by legal technicalities and campus politics.”