Khalil, a Columbia University graduate student who was born in Syria to Palestinian parents and is now a permanent U.S. resident, was arrested Saturday night by federal immigration agents at at his university-owned residence.

Palestinian protests at Columbia University will remain detained in Louisiana following a brief Wednesday court hearing.Judge Jesse Furman said he would grant a request by Mahmoud Khalil's lawyers allowing them to have privileged phone calls with Khalil at least twice — today and tomorrow.

Columbia graduate student Mahmoud Khalil will remain at a detention center in Louisiana for the near future as a Manhattan federal judge weighs further arguments from the pro-Palestinian student activist’s attorneys and government lawyers seeking his deportation following a brief hearing Wednesday.