An activist who led Pro-Palestinian protests at Columbia University will remain detained in Louisiana following a brief Wednesday court hearing. Judge Jesse Furman said he would grant a request by Mahmoud Khalil's lawyers allowing them to have privileged phone calls with Khalil at least twice — today and tomorrow.

Mahmoud Khalil, a 29-year-old legal resident of the United States, was arrested and detained by federal agents Sunday, after his green card was revoked by the Trump administration.

The Trump administration is ratcheting up pressure on New York's Columbia University as it seeks to identify participants in pro-Palestinian demonstrations last year for possible deportation after immigration authorities detained a prominent Palestinian activist.