Columbia Graduate’s Legal Fight Creates Tension Among Judges

A US immigration judge accused a New Jersey federal judge of interfering with her authority in the legal fight over the detention and potential deportation of Columbia University graduate Mahmoud Khalil.

In a July 31 order, made public Friday, immigration Judge Jamee Comans wrote that she believed US District Judge Michael Farbiarz had gone too far in recent rulings releasing Khalil from custody. Comans said, pursuant to a ruling from Farbiarz, she had withdrawn an earlier decision that Khalil could be deported, but indicated she disagreed with her judicial colleague in New Jersey.