A federal judge in New Jersey has ruled that pro-Palestinian activist and U.S. permanent resident Mahmoud Khalil can move forward with his lawsuit claiming that the government is unlawfully detaining him for his political views.

The court rejected the government’s attempt to shut down Khalil’s case before it could be heard.

Khalil has been in an immigration detention center since mid-March after his arrest by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement officers in the city.

His wife, Dr. Noor Abdalla, issued a statement in response to the latest ruling, saying, in part, “This is an important step towards securing Mahmoud’s freedom. But there is still more work to be done. I will continue to strongly advocate for my husband, so he can come home to our family.”