A federal judge in New York ordered the case of Columbia University graduate and Palestinian activist Mahmoud Khalil be transferred from New York to New Jersey where his lawyers will continue their legal efforts for his release.

A federal judge in New York denied Wednesday the Trump administration’s request to throw out pro-Palestinian activist Mahmoud Khalil’s challenge against his detention, also rejecting the government’s effort to move the green card holder’s case to a more conservative court in Louisiana that could have been more willing to side with the Trump administration.

Khalil said he was targeted for his pro-Palestinian activism and as part of the Trump administration’s “broader strategy to suppress dissent.”