By Jonathan Allen JENA, Louisiana (Reuters) -A U.S. immigration judge ruled on Friday that Palestinian activist Mahmoud Khalil can be deported, allowing President Donald Trump's administration to proceed with its effort to remove the Columbia University student from the United States a month after his arrest in New York City.

JENA, La. — Columbia University graduate student Mahmoud Khalil can be kicked out of the U.S. as a national security risk, an immigration judge in Louisiana found Friday during a hearing over the legality of deporting the activist who participated in pro-Palestinian demonstrations.

Khalil, 30, was the first international student arrested in recent weeks amid an unprecedented crackdown by federal immigration authorities.

A Louisiana immigration judge is set to decide Friday whether to release Palestinian activist and Columbia University student Mahmoud Khalil one month after he was arrested by federal agents following a deportation order from the Trump administration.

Lawyers for the detained Columbia graduate said that the lack of substantive charges against him requires more information from the secretary of state. They acknowledge they are likely to fail.

Marco Rubio said in a memo Khalil's campus activities were "otherwise lawful" but he should be deported due to potential "adverse foreign policy consequences."

The Trump administration is discussing asking a judge to enforce any deal it reaches with the school, which the White House says has not done enough to address antisemitism.

In an unusual move, the government is aiming to legally bind the school to changes as they negotiate over federal funding.

The Trump administration is reportedly pursuing a legal arrangement that would allow the federal government to enforce Columbia's compliance with its policies on antisemitism.

The president, intensifying his conflict with elite universities, is reportedly pursuing a consent decree that would legally force Columbia to comply with his agenda.

The probe will extend beyond a May 2024 protest at Brown’s medical school graduation to include the whole university, going back to October 2023.

The Trump administration is pushing for a legal agreement that would task a federal judge with supervising Columbia University, which is fighting to restore federal funding, according to a published report.