A federal judge on March 19 denied the U.S. government’s request to throw out a case concerning the arrest of a Columbia University student from Syria.
U.S. District Judge Jesse Furman wrote in a 33-page order that he was transferring the case brought by student Mahmoud Khalil to another jurisdiction, rather than dismissing it.
“That path is all the more appropriate in this case, as dismissal would mean vacatur of this Court’s order barring Khalil’s removal from the United States until his claims can be addressed, and thus might allow the Government to frustrate Khalil’s effort to obtain judicial review of his claims by removing him from the country before a court could rule,” the judge said….