The opinion said the holdings “vindicate essential principles of habeas and immigration law.” The ruling did not address the merits of Khalil’s underlying claims about deportability. The Third Circuit ruling returns the question of custody and the path to judicial review to the immigration‑court process. An immigration judge, while district court proceedings were ongoing, found Khalil removable, concluding he could be deported to Algeria or Syria; Khalil has challenged that determination in the immigration system. The appeals panel emphasized that the statutory removal process, culminating in a petition for review to a federal circuit, is the proper route for such claims. Key unanswered items in the case include whether ICE will move immediately to re‑detain Khalil, the government’s next steps, and whether Khalil will seek en banc or Supreme Court review.

Source: ABC News January 16, 2026 21:52 UTC