On Friday, the 3rd US Circuit Court of Appeals ruled against Mahmoud Khalil, a Columbia University graduate and pro-Palestinian activist, declining to reconsider a previous decision that permits his potential re-arrest and deportation. The ruling, passed by a narrow 6-5 margin, stemmed from a January decision stating that a lower-court judge lacked jurisdiction to order Khalil's release from immigration detention. Khalil was among several foreign students detained last year after participating in pro-Palestinian activism on college campuses, a move seen as part of the Trump administration's broader crackdown on dissent. The court's decision was notably divided along partisan lines, with six judges appointed by Republican presidents supporting the ruling. In contrast, five Democratic appointees, including Judge Cheryl Ann Krause, argued that the decision limits the judiciary's ability to protect the civil liberties of non-citizens. Krause emphasized that the judiciary must remain relevant and not allow the Executive Branch to self-regulate. Khalil's attorney, Baher Azmy, expressed intent to appeal to the US Supreme Court, labeling the ruling as 'dangerous' for allowing prolonged detention without adequate judicial oversight.