Khalil, a legal permanent resident married to a U.S. citizen, has become the face of the Trump administration’s crackdown on student protesters opposing Israel’s war in Gaza. He was the first of several students across the U.S. who were detained and threatened with deportation. Khalil was taken by immigration agents outside his New York City home in early March and detained in Louisiana.

While other students were released from detention, the Trump administration kept Khalil behind bars in Louisiana. During this time, he missed the birth of his first child. When he flew back to New Jersey over the weekend, Khalil was met with cheers as he pumped his fist into the air.