US court temporarily blocks effort to deport Gaza protest leader

President Trump says more arrests will follow, as protesters demonstrate against the detention of Mahmoud Khalil.

British Broadcasting CorporationWatch LiveHomeNewsSportBusinessInnovationCultureArtsTravelEarthAudioVideoLiveHomeNewsIsrael-Gaza WarWar in UkraineUS & CanadaUKUK PoliticsEnglandN. IrelandN. Ireland PoliticsScotlandScotland PoliticsWalesWales PoliticsAfricaAsiaChinaIndiaAustraliaEuropeLatin AmericaMiddle EastIn PicturesBBC InDepthBBC VerifySportBusinessExecutive LoungeTechnology of BusinessFuture of BusinessInnovationTechnologyScience & HealthArtificial IntelligenceAI v the MindCultureFilm & TVMusicArt & DesignStyleBooksEntertainment NewsArtsArts in MotionTravelDestinationsAfricaAntarcticaAsiaAustralia and PacificCaribbean & BermudaCentral AmericaEuropeMiddle EastNorth AmericaSouth AmericaWorld’s TableCulture & ExperiencesAdventuresThe SpeciaListEarthNatural WondersWeather & ScienceClimate SolutionsSustainable BusinessGreen LivingAudioPodcastsRadioAudio FAQsVideoLiveLive NewsLive SportHomeNewsSportBusinessInnovationCultureArtsTravelEarthAudioVideoLiveWeatherNewslettersUS court temporarily blocks effort to deport Gaza protest leader 3 hours agoShareSaveMadeline HalpertBBC NewsRachel LookerBBC News, WashingtonShareSaveGetty ImagesA crowd of protesters gathered in New York's Foley Square on Monday to demand the release of Mr KhalilA federal judge has temporarily blocked the Trump administration's attempt to deport Palestinian activist Mahmoud Khalil, who was arrested over the weekend by immigration agents.

Mr Khalil, a Columbia University graduate and permanent US resident, played a key role in last year's Gaza war protests at the Ivy League campus in New York City.

The arrest is part of President Donald Trump's pledge to crackdown on pro-Palestinian protesters on college campuses, in what he called "the first arrest of many to come".

Protesters gathered in New York City on Monday afternoon pushing for Mr Khalil's release and condemning the Trump administration's actions.

A crowd waving Palestinian flags gathered in Lower Manhattan's Foley Square soon after it was reported that the US had attempted to deport Khalil. The protesters later marched further south toward city hall. At least one person was detained.