Mohsen Mandawi, who has a green card, was a key organizer of pro-Palestinian protests at Columbia last year.
From the bench, U.S. District Judge Geoffrey W. Crawford ordered the release of Mahdawi on bail, pending the resolution of his habeas petition.
The government requested that Crawford pause Mahdawi's release from prison for seven days by issuing a stay of the order, but the judge denied it.
Following Wednesday's hearing, DHS Assistant Secretary Tricia McLaughlin issued a statement stating that the judge would not prevent the Trump administration from "restoring the rule of law to our immigration system."
"It is a privilege to be granted a visa or green card to live and study in the United States of America," she said. "When you advocate for violence, glorify and support terrorists that relish the killing of Americans, and harass Jews, that privilege should be revoked, and you should not be in this country."
In the government’s opposition to releasing Mahdawi, it said that law enforcement records indicated that Mahdawi has admitted "to being involved in and supporting antisemitic acts of violence" and "an interest in and facility with firearms for that purpose," according to court documents reviewed by NBC News.
