When protests over the Israel-Hamas war took root on Columbia University’s campus last spring, Mahmoud Khalil became a familiar, outspoken figure in a student movement that soon spread to other U.S. colleges.

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.