ICE denies Mahmoud Khalil from holding newborn son: Reports
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Mahmoud Khalil, detained Palestinian activist and Columbia University graduate

Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) prevented detained Palestinian activist and Columbia University graduate Mahmoud Khalil from holding his newborn son during a family visit, according to a report published by CBS News citing his legal team.

Khalil, 30, met his month-old baby for the first time behind a glass partition at a detention center in Louisiana, where he has been held since March. His wife, Noor Abdalla, traveled from New York for the visit, hoping for a contact meeting.

However, ICE officials and the private contractor operating the facility denied the family’s request for physical contact, citing the detention center’s no-contact visitation policy and vague “security concerns,” Khalil’s lawyers said.

  • geneva_convenience@lemmy.mlOP
    41·
    3 days ago

    This is very confusing. NYT yesterday: https://www.nytimes.com/2025/05/21/nyregion/mahmoud-khalil-detention-hearing-baby-meeting.html

    An administrator at the detention facility agreed that the couple could visit, but specified that it would be “non-contact,” meaning that the two would not be allowed to touch and could speak only through a clear divider. Mr. Khalil’s lawyers then asked for an exception so that their client could hold his newborn son. The facility again said no.

    • mkwt@lemmy.world
      4·
      3 days ago

      That all happened yesterday.

      This morning, ICE and/or the facility changed their mind. The no-glass meeting today with the attorney and wife was required by a court order. The court did not require the newborn to be admitted to the “attorney-client” meeting, but he was admitted anyway.

      The legal authority for the court order was to enforce Khalil’s sixth amendment right to the assistance of counsel.