Center for Constitutional Rights

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Federal Appeals Court Denies Trump Administration Bid to Re-detain Mahmoud Khalil Court states the administration must continue to comply with order blocking use of foreign policy bar to deport himJuly 30, 2025, Philadelphia – The Third Circuit Court of Appeals today rejected the g

Read the full press release below. ccrjustice.org/home/press-c...

"This decision affirms that he will remain free and that the government cannot pursue his removal based on the likely unconstitutional foreign policy charge as his case moves through appeal," said Noor Zafar, senior staff attorney at the ACLU.

The court also denied the government’s attempt to stay in full a lower court ruling that the Trump administration cannot seek to deport Mr. Khalil on grounds that his lawful, First Amendment-protected speech would compromise U.S. foreign policy.

This is a photo of Mahmoud Khalil. He is in front of a mic, speaking to a crowd at a presser and rally in support of his release. He has several supporters behind him and has one hand holding a piece of paper and the other upright above his head with his hand in a fist.

Yesterday, the Third Circuit Court of Appeals rejected the government's request to suspend Mahmoud Khalil’s release on bail and re-detain him pending its appeal of the district court’s bail order.

Civil Rights Groups Sue to Compel Trump Admin to Release Info on Detention of Immigrants at Guantánamo Hundreds denied due process and held in abusive conditions as administration plans to send thousands more to infamous prison siteJuly 29, 2025, New York – Civil rights groups today filed a Freedom of

Read the full press release below to learn more about the filing. ccrjustice.org/home/press-c...

"That the Trump administration is embracing this symbol of lawlessness and brutality – while refusing to provide any info about conditions or their legal authority – leads us to fear the worst of Guantánamo is happening again," said Justice Fellow and Staff Attorney Ayla Kadah.

Despite attempting to expand this notorious prison camp the administration is continuing to operate in secrecy about who they are sending there and why, as well as the likely terrible conditions for individuals detained there.

The move comes after the administration sent approximately 500 noncitizens to Guantánamo without due process and amid reports that it plans to detain thousands more there.

Today we, alongside our partners, filed a Freedom of Information Act lawsuit seeking information on the Trump Administration’s detention of immigrants at the U.S. Naval Base in Guantánamo Bay, Cuba.

Breaking: Israel Illegally Seizes Boat Delivering Humanitarian Aid to Gaza The Center for Constitutional Rights condemns Israel’s use of military force to yet again prevent the delivery of desperately needed aid to Palestinians in Gaza being starved to deathJuly 26, 2025, Ne

Read the full statement below. ccrjustice.org/home/press-c...

We on the U.S. government to publicly demand the safety and immediate release of the U.S. citizens and all on the Handala, and calls on the international community to take all measures to lift Israel’s illegal siege of Gaza and to end Israel’s genocide of the Palestinian people."

...being starved to death by Israel. The use of force against the brave human rights activists on the Handala threatens their lives, as we have seen repeatedly.

"The Center for Constitutional Rights stands proudly with the human rights defenders aboard the Handala aid ship and condemns Israel’s use of military force to yet again prevent the delivery of desperately needed humanitarian aid to Palestinians in Gaza...

The Handala had 21 people on board from ten countries, including seven United States citizens. We issued the following statement condemning Israel’s actions:

Shortly after 4:30 p.m. ET / 11:30 p.m. local time, the Israeli government intercepted and boarded the Handala, the latest Gaza flotilla boat to attempt to deliver humanitarian aid to Gaza, and abducted its crew.

This is a photo of the Freedom Flotilla boat. It is covered in different illustrations and messages and has a sign that says stop the genocide.

Breaking: Israel Illegally Seizes Boat Delivering Humanitarian Aid to Gaza. We condemn Israel’s use of military force to yet again prevent the delivery of desperately needed aid to Palestinians in Gaza being starved to death.

The Ugly Politics of Jackson, Mississippi’s Ongoing Water Crisis $600 million has been spent trying to salvage the city’s decrepit water system after it collapsed three years ago. Now the money is gone and the problems aren’t fixed—and residents fear they may…

The Ugly Politics of Jackson, Mississippi’s Ongoing Water Crisis via @newrepublic.com. newrepublic.com/article/1973...

After Detaining People in El Salvador Torture Prison for 125 Days, the U.S. Government Must Be Held Accountable for Disappearing Migrants July 19, 2025, WASHINGTON, D.C.

Read the full press release below. ccrjustice.org/home/press-c...

“The ‘deals’ made for these Venezuelans' confinement and transfers between the United States, El Salvador, and Venezuela treat human beings as bargaining chips and underscore the cruel consequences of criminalizing migration and monetizing torture,” they continued.

“We celebrate this news, along with the loved ones of Mr. Quintero Chacón and Mr. Ramos Bastidas who returned to Venezuela yesterday after being disappeared and tortured for months at the direction and expense of the U.S. government,” said senior staff attorney CJ Sandley.

Counsel for both men expressed profound relief at their release, and emphasized the urgent need for accountability from the U.S. Government for disappearing them to CECOT in the first place.

After 125 days imprisoned in El Salvador’s Terrorism Confinement Center (CECOT), Venezuelan nationals Edicson Quintero Chacón and Jose Manuel Ramos Bastidas were released yesterday and placed on a flight to Venezuela alongside about 250 others whom the US paid to detain at CECOT.

Federal subpoena targets Jackson, MS, $89.8M Siemens settlement spending. See who was named A federal court has issued a subpoena seeking records related to Jackson’s $89.8 million Siemens settlement in 2020.

"Together, the lawsuits accuse the city of failing to maintain its sewer and water systems in violation of federal environmental laws." www.clarionledger.com/story/news/l...

"The subpoena is part of two federal lawsuits against the city — one over years of raw sewage overflows into Jackson neighborhoods, and another filed after the 2022 drinking water crisis that left residents without running water for days."

"Federal authorities have subpoenaed financial records from the City of Jackson and key parties tied to its nearly $90 million settlement with Siemens Industry, Inc. in 2020," according to the Clarion Ledger.

JXN Water releases mostly positive water quality report The data shows just a few contaminant violations in 2024.

www.wapt.com/article/jxn-...

Ex-Columbia Student Wins Ruling Blocking Deportation, for Now A federal judge said the US can’t immediately deport Mahmoud Khalil, blocking the Trump administration’s attempts to get another court to give it permission to ship the former Columbia University grad...

The so-called “adverse foreign policy charge is patently unconstitutional and the administration cannot attempt to remove him on that ground, plain and simple,” Baher Azmy said. www.bloomberg.com/news/article...

Ramzi Kassem: Freeing Khalil and defending civil liberties Listen to the podcast here.

Ramzi Kassem: Freeing Khalil and defending civil liberties via @spectrumnewsny1.bsky.social

ny1.com/nyc/all-boro...

Internships and Volunteering What better way to get involved with the Center for Constitutional Rights than working here?

The intern will spend 12-20 hours per week between September and December 2025 assisting attorneys on projects. To learn more about and apply to the position, head over to bit.ly/ccr-internships. Applications are due August 1st.