New court documents reveal that the US government detained Columbia University graduate student Mahmoud Khalil without a warrant due to fears that he might attempt to flee during an encounter with agents. The Department of Homeland Security claims that Khalil indicated he would leave the area while his wife retrieved documentation proving his legal residency, leading to the decision to detain him. The government also disclosed that Khalil had been flagged for potential removal from the US due to concerns about American foreign policy. Khalil's attorney criticized federal authorities for misleading the immigration court by initially asserting the existence of an arrest warrant.