Cnn
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Mahmoud Khalil, a graduate of the University of Columbia, who has been in immigration detention in Louisiana for more than a month, was forbidden to attend the birth of her firstborn on Monday, after immigration officials refused her permission to attend birth in person, according to emails examined by CNN.
Sunday morning, Khalil lawyers wrote to Mellissa Harper, director of the US immigration and customs office in New Orleans, asking Khalil to be released from detention for two weeks so that he can travel to New York and be with her wife when she delivered their son.
The case of Khalil sparked a storm of controversy since he was arrested in front of his university residence in Columbia where he lived with his pregnant wife, an American citizen.
“Mr. Khalil’s wife has just worked this morning in New York, eight days earlier than expected,” said Khalil lawyers. “A two -week leave in this civil detention case would be both reasonable and human so that both parents can be present for the birth of their first child.”
The email continues by saying that Khalil and his lawyers would accept all the conditions necessary to grant the leave, in particular by carrying a GPS ankle instructor and planned checks.
About 30 minutes after sending the request for email, Harper responded with a refusal of two sentences, saying that she had decided not to grant the leave “after examining the information submitted and an examination of the case of your customer”.
The Ministry of Internal Security did not answer CNN questions at Khalil’s request, but rather accused it of pleading in favor of violence and other actions unfounded in a statement on Tuesday.
“It is a privilege of having obtained a visa or a green card to live and study in the United States of America,” said DHS spokesperson, Tricia McLaughlin, in the press release. “When you defend violence, glorify and support the terrorists who savor the murder of the Americans and harass the Jews, take control of the buildings and give off the goods, this privilege should be revoked and you should not be in this country.”
This month, an immigration judge noted that Khalil was removable in the United States, and his lawyers appealed. In addition, Khalil lawyers continue a case before the Federal Court which disputes the legality of his detention and seeks his release.
Khalil, 30, is in detention in an ICE detention center in Jena, Louisiana, more than 1,000 miles from her family. Khalil was able to experience the birth of his son on the phone, according to the spokesperson for the Khalil legal team. His wife and baby are both healthy.
Khalil’s wife Noor Abdalla replied to the government’s decision in a statement saying on Monday that Ice and Trump administration had stolen “precious moments” from their young family.
Although Khalil was not charged with a crime, the Trump administration accused him of supporting Hamas, although they had no evidence in court.
“My son and I should not sail his first days on Earth without Mahmoud,” Abdalla said in the press release at CNN. “I will continue to fight every day so that Mahmoud comes home. I know that when Mahmoud is released, he will show our son how to be courageous, thoughtful and compassionate, just like his father. ”
Correction: An earlier version of this story has badly spelled the first name of Mellissa Harper.
