Mahmoud Khalil’s wife, Dr. Noor Abdalla, welcomed their first child early Monday morning in New York. Unfortunately, Khalil was not there to share the moment. He remains in a detention center in Louisiana after being denied temporary release by U.S. immigration authorities.
Khalil, a 30-year-old legal permanent resident and Columbia University graduate, has been in ICE custody since early March. His detention follows the Trump administration’s decision to revoke his green card due to his involvement in anti-Israel protests at Columbia.
Abdalla, 28, delivered their son while Khalil was hundreds of miles away. She expressed her heartbreak, stating, "My son and I should not be experiencing these first moments without Mahmoud." She criticized the government’s actions, saying they are trying to silence her husband’s advocacy for Palestinian freedom.
Khalil’s lawyer had requested that ICE allow him to attend the birth with certain restrictions, but the request was swiftly denied. Abdalla had hoped Khalil would be home for the birth, saying, "It would be devastating for me and for him to meet his first child behind a glass screen."
Khalil’s legal troubles began when he was taken into custody, part of a broader pattern of international students being detained for their activism. Recently, a judge ruled that he can be deported, but the process is not immediate. His lawyers plan to appeal the decision.
Abdalla remains steadfast in her support for Khalil. She believes he will teach their son important values like bravery and compassion when he is finally home. The couple has been together for two years, and Abdalla continues to fight for Khalil’s release, hoping they can soon be a family together.