Fact Check: "Judge ruled Khalil is not a flight risk or danger to the community."
What We Know
On June 20, 2025, U.S. District Judge Michael Farbiarz ruled that Mahmoud Khalil, a Palestinian activist and former Columbia University graduate student, is not a flight risk and does not pose a danger to the community. This ruling came after Khalil had spent 104 days in federal immigration detention, during which he became a prominent figure amid the Trump administration's crackdown on campus protests related to Israel's policies in Gaza. Judge Farbiarz stated, "Petitioner is not a flight risk, and the evidence presented is that he is not a danger to the community. Period, full stop" (PBS, 5).
The judge's decision was based on the assessment that the government had not met the necessary standards for continued detention. Khalil's case has drawn significant attention, particularly because he was the first individual arrested under the Trump administration's policies targeting student activists involved in pro-Palestinian protests (Reuters, 2).
Analysis
The ruling by Judge Farbiarz is supported by multiple credible sources, all of which confirm that he explicitly stated Khalil is neither a flight risk nor a danger to the community. The judge's comments were made during a phone hearing, where he emphasized that it would be "highly, highly unusual" for the government to continue detaining a legal U.S. resident without evidence of a threat or intent to flee (4, 7).
The sources used in this fact-check include reputable news organizations such as the Associated Press, Reuters, Politico, and Forbes, which are known for their journalistic integrity and fact-checking standards. Each of these outlets reported on the judge's ruling and provided context regarding Khalil's detention and the implications of the ruling. The consistency across these reports lends credibility to the claim that Khalil was deemed not a flight risk or a danger to the community.
However, it is important to note that the Department of Homeland Security has indicated plans to appeal the judge's ruling, suggesting ongoing legal complexities surrounding Khalil's immigration status (2, 5). This appeal does not negate the judge's ruling but highlights the contentious nature of immigration enforcement under the current administration.
Conclusion
The claim that "Judge ruled Khalil is not a flight risk or danger to the community" is True. Multiple credible sources confirm that Judge Michael Farbiarz explicitly stated Khalil does not pose a flight risk or a danger, supporting the assertion made in the claim. The ruling reflects a judicial determination based on the evidence presented during the hearing, and while the government plans to appeal, this does not alter the validity of the judge's decision at this time.
Sources
- Pro-Palestinian activist Khalil walks free after US judge ...
- Pro-Palestinian activist Mahmoud Khalil set free after judge orders ...
- WATCH: 'Justice prevailed but it's very long overdue,' Mahmoud Khalil ...
- Judge orders release of former Columbia University activist Mahmoud Khalil
- Mahmoud Khalil: Judge Orders Columbia University Activist's ...
