Noor Abdalla, the wife of Palestinian activist Mahmoud Khalil who is currently detained, has announced the birth of their son. In a statement, Abdalla expressed her disappointment that Khalil was not able to be present for the birth, as ICE denied his temporary release. The Department of Homeland Security also refused to allow Khalil to attend the birth, which he was only able to experience via a telephone call. Abdalla, a US citizen born and raised in Michigan, and her son are both in good health. Khalil’s lawyers had suggested several ways in which he could have attended the birth, including a two-week furlough while wearing an ankle monitor and requiring scheduled check-ins. The request was denied by the New Orleans field office of Immigration and Customs Enforcement. Khalil was arrested on grounds that he is considered to be a threat to US foreign policy and earlier this month, an immigration judge ruled that Khalil is eligible to be deported from the United States. Abdalla has been fighting for her husband’s release since his arrest, stating that the Trump administration is trying to silence anyone who speaks up for Palestinian rights. She vowed to continue to fight for Khalil’s release and to pass on his strength to their son.
Source: https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2025/apr/21/mahmoud-khalil-ice-noor-abdalla-birth
