A Palestinian activist who led anti-Israel protests at Columbia University should remain detained in Louisiana and not transferred to New York as he faces deportation proceedings, US lawyers argued in court filings.

A US judge should reject a request by Mahmoud Khalil to move so he can be closer to his attorneys and pregnant wife, lawyers for US Immigration and Customs Enforcement argued late Friday. The US is looking to deport Khalil, a legal permanent resident, for activities that have “potentially serious adverse foreign policy consequences.”