Detained Palestinian Columbia graduate holds newborn for 1st time at US facility

WASHINGTON

Palestinian activist and recent Columbia University graduate Mahmoud Khalil held his newborn son for the first time Thursday at a detention center in the state of Louisiana, according to reports.

The meeting took place shortly before a pivotal immigration court hearing, Khalil’s attorneys told CNN.

His attorneys are expected to argue that the government has engaged in "egregious" misconduct, challenging the legality of his warrantless arrest, the news outlet reported.

Khalil, 30 a lawful permanent resident who has not been charged with a crime, was arrested in March for participating in pro-Palestine campus protests – forcing him to miss his graduation and the birth of his son.

He has remained in detention in Louisiana while his court case proceeds in New Jersey.

Khalil’s wife, Noor Abdalla, traveled from New York to the Central Louisiana ICE Processing Center, hoping her husband could meet and hold their child on Wednesday but was denied a contact visit.