A federal judge has denied the U.S. government’s request to transfer the case of pro-Palestinian activist Mahmoud Khalil from New Jersey to Louisiana, ruling that the New Jersey court has jurisdiction since his attorneys filed a habeas corpus motion while he was in the state.

Khalil, a Columbia University graduate student and activist, was arrested on March 8 near his apartment and later transferred to an ICE detention center in Louisiana. He is accused of posing a national security threat due to alleged ties to terrorist organizations, which his legal team disputes.

His wife, Noor Abdalla, who is expecting their first child, welcomed the ruling but emphasized that more legal battles remain. His attorney, Baher Azmy, accused the government of manipulating jurisdictions to delay proceedings.

Meanwhile, another detained student, Rumeysa Ozturk, faces a similar legal challenge. Unlike Khalil, she was transferred across multiple states before filing her petition, leading the government to argue that her case should be heard in Louisiana.

Khalil’s legal team continues to push for his release, calling the government’s tactics an unconstitutional attempt to suppress activists.