Federal appeals court sides with Trump admin in judge’s Mahmoud Khalil decision | 15 Jan 2026 | A federal appeals court ruled Thursday that a lower court judge lacked authority in ordering the release of anti-Israel activist Mahmoud Khalil, siding with the Trump administration in a closely watched immigration case. In a 2-1 decision, a three-judge panel of the 3rd U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals ruled that U.S. District Judge Michael Farbiarz of New Jersey lacked “subject-matter jurisdiction” under federal immigration law to halt the Trump administration’s effort to remove Khalil. Khalil was ordered to be released from the government’s detention on June 20 after he was arrested at his New York City apartment by special agents from Homeland Security Investigations in early March. “Khalil obtained his visa by willfully and intentionally failing to accurately report information relevant to his background. Those who lie to the government to obtain entry into the United States will face justice,” White House spokeswoman Abigail Jackson told Fox News Digital in a statement.