Immigration case of Columbia alum Mahmoud Khalil moved to New Jersey

A judge on Wednesday said that the immigration case of Columbia University alum Mahmoud Khalil, who was detained by Immigration and Customs Enforcement, will be transferred to New Jersey.

Khalil, an active protester against Israel at the university, was taken into custody earlier this month by federal agents.

The Trump administration wants to deport Khalil despite him having a Green Card, which has sparked some protests.

The federal government wants Khalil's case to be heard in Louisiana while his attorneys want the case heard in New York, according to The Hill newspaper.

“[T]he law precludes this Court from reaching the merits of Khalil’s claims, as serious and important as they may be, and it mandates that the Court allow a tribunal with jurisdiction to take the matter up from here,” said U.S. District Judge Jesse Furman.  

Furman argued that since Khalil was detained in New Jersey, that's where his case should be litigated. 

So far, Khalil has not been charged with a crime but the government argues that he poses a national security threat.