Pro-Palestinian activist and Columbia University graduate Mahmoud Khalil was released from an immigration detention center in Louisiana after an order by a federal judge on Friday.

"I'm going to exercise the discretion that I have to order the release of the petitioner in this case," U.S. District Judge Michael Farbiaz said in a New Jersey courtroom.

Farbiaz ruled that Khalil “is not a danger to the community. Period, full stop.”

Khalil, a 30-year-old Syrian national of Palestinian descent and a green card holder, was detained by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) on March 8 at his student housing unit. His arrest was tied to his leadership role in pro-Palestinian student activism on Columbia's campus.

A video of the detainment went viral, with many Americans viewing Khalil not only as a hero for constitutional rights, but also as a symbol of advocacy for the country's 4.5 million Muslims.

Shortly after his release, Khalil went to back to the campus and participated in a pro-Palestine demonstration.

Speaking to The New York Times, Khalil condemned his treatment by ICE.

“All the ‘Know Your Rights’ information and fliers I read and familiarized myself with were useless,” he said. “There are no rights in such situations.”

Khalil added that his treatment resembled that of the former Assad regime.

While Khalil has not been accused of violating any laws, U.S. Secretary of State Marcio Rubio labeled him a national security threat. He cited the Immigration and Nationality Act of 1952, which grants discretion to federal officials in determining whether an individual poses such a threat.