Jan. 15 (UPI) -- A federal appeals court ruled Thursday that a lower court didn't have the authority to order the release of Syrian immigrant Mahmoud Khalil while he appeals his deportation order.
The 3rd U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals voted 2-1 to dismiss a lawsuit brought by Khalil challenging his detention. The ruling effectively overturns U.S. District Judge Michael Farbiarz's order in June to release the former Columbia graduate student from federal detention in Louisiana.
The judge for the District of New Jersey said at the time that it was "highly, highly unusual" that the federal government wanted Khalil detained for more than 100 days without justification.
The appellate court said Farbiarz "lacked jurisdiction over Khalil's removal proceedings" under the Immigration and Naturalization Act and that his case must continue under the immigration court.
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