NEW YORK (AP) — A federal appeals court is giving former Columbia University graduate student Mahmoud Khalil more time to fight the Trump administration’s efforts to deport him.
Khalil, a lawful permanent resident of the U.S., was detained by immigration authorities last year because of his participation in pro-Palestinian demonstrations at Columbia in the spring of 2024.
The U.S. government argued at the time that Khalil’s presence in the U.S. was harmful to the country’s foreign policy interests.
Khalil spent months in detention before a federal judge in New Jersey freed him, saying that the government had acted unconstitutionally.
The 3rd U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals then heard the case. It ruled that the judge in New Jersey didn’t have the authority to intervene in Khalil’s case, and said the case needed to proceed first through the immigration courts.
The appeals court on Tuesday, however, said it would put its ruling on hold while Khalil appeals to the U.S. Supreme Court.
Brett Max Kaufman, senior counsel with the American Civil Liberties Union, which is involved in representing Khalil, said they're grateful for the decision.
“We look forward to asking the Supreme Court to make clear that the government cannot use the threat of detention and deportation to silence dissent," he said in a statement.
An appeal to the high court is expected in the coming months, possibly in late summer.
The U.S. Department of Homeland Security did not immediately comment on the decision.
As the court directed, Khalil’s lawyers have also argued his case in the immigration courts — so far unsuccessfully. He now has a separate appeal of those proceedings pending before a different federal appeals court, the 5th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals, in Louisiana.
Tuesday’s stay by the 3rd U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals provides Khalil with an extra layer of insulation against his possible re-arrest and deportation while his other appeals are still pending.
The court did not provide a reason for the decision, but said, “If no timely petition is filed,” parties need to let the court know in writing.
FILE - Palestinian activist Mahmoud Khalil holds a news conference outside Federal Court, Oct. 21, 2025, in Philadelphia. (AP Photo/Matt Rourke, File)
Jalen Williams was out. Ajay Mitchell was out. And that led the Oklahoma City Thunder to give Jared McCain his first career playoff start, almost out of desperation.
It turned out to be a genius move.
McCain scored 20 points — 18 of them coming in the second half — and the Thunder beat the San Antonio Spurs 127-114 in Game 5 of the Western Conference finals on Tuesday night, a victory that put the reigning NBA champions one win away from a return trip to the NBA Finals.
Williams was downgraded to out by the Thunder for Game 5 about an hour before game time Tuesday. after being listed as questionable throughout the day because of his ongoing issues with a strained left hamstring.
Mitchell, who typically starts in Williams' place, was ruled out earlier by the Thunder with a strained right soleus.
And that created a moment for McCain — who delivered. He wasn't shy, either, with his 19 shot attempts in Game 5 tying Shai Gilgeous-Alexander for the most on the Thunder.
McCain was making the first playoff start of his career. He averaged 8.8 points in 12 playoff games off the bench for the Thunder entering Tuesday.
It's unknown how long he'll remain in the starting five. Game 6 is Thursday in San Antonio, but his effort Tuesday certainly was one heck of an audition.
Williams returned for Game 1 of the West finals, scoring 26 points in 37 minutes in Oklahoma City’s 122-115 double-overtime loss. He had four points in seven first-quarter minutes in Game 2, including an alley-oop dunk with 2:12 left in the period, and hasn't played since.
Williams has now missed 58 of the Thunder’s 95 games this season, including playoffs. Of those absences, 19 were for a right wrist issue and the other 39 were related to his hamstrings — the right one costing him 30 games during the regular season, the left one now costing him nine during the playoffs.
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Oklahoma City Thunder guard Jared McCain (3) reacts to a basket against the San Antonio Spurs in the second half of Game 5 in the Western Conference finals NBA basketball playoffs series, Tuesday, May 26, 2026, in Oklahoma City.(AP Photo/Gerald Leong)
Oklahoma City Thunder guard Jared McCain (3) and San Antonio Spurs guard De'aaron Fox (4) vie for a loose ball in the first half of Game 5 in the Western Conference finals NBA basketball playoffs series, Tuesday, May 26, 2026, in Oklahoma City. (AP Photo/Julio Cortez)
Oklahoma City Thunder guard Jared McCain (3) drives against San Antonio Spurs guard De'aaron Fox (4) in the first half of Game 5 in the Western Conference finals NBA basketball playoffs series, Tuesday, May 26, 2026, in Oklahoma City. (AP Photo/Julio Cortez)
Oklahoma City Thunder guard Jared McCain (3) reacts to a basket against the San Antonio Spurs in the second half of Game 5 in the Western Conference finals NBA basketball playoffs series, Tuesday, May 26, 2026, in Oklahoma City. (AP Photo/Julio Cortez)
Oklahoma City Thunder guard Jared McCain (3) celebrates after making a 3-pointer during the second half of Game 2 in the Western Conference finals NBA basketball playoffs series against the San Antonio Spurs Wednesday, May 20, 2026, in Oklahoma City. (AP Photo/Tony Gutierrez)
Oklahoma City Thunder guard Jalen Williams (8) and guard Shai Gilgeous-Alexander (2) celebrate after a 3-pointer during the second overtime of Game 1 in a third-round NBA basketball playoffs series against the San Antonio Spurs Monday, May 18, 2026, in Oklahoma City. (AP Photo/Tony Gutierrez)
