Mahmoud Khalil, a Columbia University graduate and pro-Palestinian activist, has filed an administrative complaint against the Trump administration seeking $20 million in damages or an official apology. Khalil spent more than three months in ICE detention before a federal judge ordered his release in June.
Allegations of False Arrest and Retaliation
Khalil’s complaint, filed under the Federal Tort Claims Act, accuses the administration of false arrest, malicious prosecution, and intentional infliction of emotional distress. He claims his detention was a retaliatory act against his role in leading Columbia’s pro-Palestinian protests during the 2024 Israel-Hamas war.
Activist Targeted Amid Trump’s Crackdown on Campus Protests
ICE agents arrested Khalil, a green card holder married to a U.S. citizen, in March at his New York apartment. He became the first high-profile pro-Palestinian activist detained during Trump’s efforts to suppress campus protests, which he called “hotbeds of antisemitism.”
Administration Cited National Security Risk
The Trump administration alleged that Khalil supported Hamas, though his lawyers say no evidence was provided. Secretary of State Marco Rubio used a rare legal provision to justify Khalil’s deportation on foreign policy grounds.
Court Ordered Release but Deportation Effort Continues
While an immigration judge in Louisiana initially ruled against Khalil, a federal judge in New Jersey later barred his deportation and ordered his release on June 20. Despite the ruling, the administration is still pursuing his removal from the U.S.
Khalil: Damages Would Support Other Activists
According to the Center for Constitutional Rights, Khalil intends to use any awarded damages to assist others targeted by the Trump administration and Columbia University. The group said he would accept an apology and an end to the administration’s deportation policies instead of payment.
DHS Defends Its Actions
DHS Assistant Secretary Tricia McLaughlin defended the detention, saying the Trump administration acted within its legal authority. She dismissed Khalil’s claims as “absurd,” accusing him of promoting antisemitism and terrorizing Jewish students through his actions and rhetoric.
For more on Khalil’s case, stay tuned to Que Onda Magazine.