The judge orders the case of Mahmoud Khalil transferred from Louisiana to New Jersey

Khalil’s arrest has been linked to President Donald Trump’s promise to take energetic measures against protesters who accuses “non -American activity.”

Immigration and Customs Control Agents (ICE) arrested him in their Manhattan apartment, owned by the University, and initially placed it in a New Jersey immigration installation before transferring it to a detention center in Jena, Louisiana, according to Ice Records.

The Trump administration had asked the New York Court to dismiss Mr. Khalil’s challenge or transfer it to Louisiana, home of one of the most conservative appeal courts in the nation.

Rejecting the administration’s offer on Wednesday, the district judge Jesse Furman ruled that, since the New Jersey district was “the only district in which Khalil could have presented his request” looking for his release of detention, the case must be transferred there instead of Louisiana.

The judge also confirmed his order of March 10, except for the deportation of Mr. Khalil while the case continues, but did not rule on the request for his immediate release of his lawyers.

The United States Department of Justice has not commented on the ruling.

Khalil’s lawyer, Samah Sisay, said in a statement on Wednesday that the government transferred him to Louisiana to prevent the case from being heard in New York or New Jersey.

“Mr. Khalil should be free and at home with his wife waiting for the birth of his first child, and we will continue doing our best to make that happen,” Mrs. Sisay said to Reuters.

Mr. Khalil’s wife, who is an American citizen, has eight months pregnant.

His lawyers have argued that he was exercising the rights of freedom of expression to demonstrate in support of the Palestinians in Gaza and against the support of the United States to Israel. They accused the government of “open repression of student activism and political discourse.”

Trump has previously stated that foreign students considered that “terrorist supporters” would face deportation.

Mr. Khalil has not been accused of any crime.