A U.S. judge on Wednesday extended his order blocking federal authorities from deporting a detained Columbia University student Mahmoud Khalil.

An activist who led Pro-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.

The Department of Homeland Security claimed that Columbia University anti-Israel activist Mahmoud Khalil “led activities aligned to Hamas, a designated terrorist organization."