Judge allows detained father to hold newborn son | JQJO

Detained Palestinian activist Mahmoud Khalil, a legal permanent resident, was allowed a contact visit with his one-month-old son after a federal judge overruled the government's plan for a plexiglass-separated visit. Khalil, arrested for protesting the Gaza war, has been detained since March. The government argued that allowing contact would grant Khalil a privilege other detainees don't receive, citing safety concerns. Khalil's attorneys countered that the refusal was retaliatory. The judge's decision follows days of legal battles and Khalil's wife's 1500-mile journey to see her husband and son meet. A deportation hearing is scheduled for later today.