The night federal agents arrested Mahmoud Khalil on Columbia University's campus, the Palestinian activist feared he would be immediately deported, according to a sworn declaration included in a new court filing by his attorneys.

Amy Greer, Khalil's attorney, said officials were acting on a State Department order to revoke Khalil's student visa and green card when he was arrested and detained. Khalil was sent to a detention center in Jena, Louisiana. He will not be present at the New York hearing, his lawyers said.