SAFA- The Trump administration was ordered to free pro-Palestinian activist Mohsen Mahdawi from an immigration detention facility by a lower court last year, but a U.S. appeals court on Tuesday overturned that decision, finding that the lower court lacked jurisdiction.

The decision, handed down by a three-judge panel of the 2d U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals in Manhattan, ruled that the lower court did not have the legal authority to rule on the lawsuit, thereby overturning the previous judgment that granted Mahdawi his release.

Mahdawi, 35, is among several non-citizen students who have faced deportation proceedings over the past year due to their participation in protests against Israel's military campaign in the Gaza Strip.

These arrests have sparked a series of lawsuits, putting President Donald Trump’s hardline immigration policies in direct conflict with the First Amendment's right to free speech.

 The situation has fueled an ongoing legal and human rights debate regarding the scope of the administration's authority over pro-Palestinian activists.

Observers note that this ruling, when compared to an earlier decision this year involving pro-Palestinian activist Mahmoud Khalil, could make it harder for detained non-citizens to secure a swift release through the courts by claiming First Amendment violations.

About two weeks into Mahdawi's detention, U.S. District Judge Geoffrey Crawford ordered his release on bail, emphasizing in his ruling that Mahdawi enjoys the same First Amendment free speech protections guaranteed to U.S. citizens.