Mahmoud Khalil seeks compensation of $20 million in a legal lawsuit following his detention.
Mahmoud Khalil, a former graduate student at Columbia University and a pro-Palestinian protest leader, has filed a $20 million lawsuit against the Trump administration. The suit alleges unlawful arrest, false imprisonment, malicious prosecution, and intentional infliction of emotional distress related to his detention by Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) for over 100 days in 2025.
The claim, filed as an administrative complaint under the Federal Tort Claims Act of 1946 and supported by the Center for Constitutional Rights (CCR), accuses the Trump administration, including the Departments of Homeland Security and State, of orchestrating his deportation "in a manner calculated to terrorize him and his family." The lawsuit states that this mistreatment caused Khalil severe emotional and economic harm, damage to his reputation, and violation of his First and Fifth Amendment rights.
Khalil, an Algerian citizen of Palestinian descent and a green card holder married to a U.S. citizen, has stated he would accept an official apology and abandonment of the administration's policy instead of monetary compensation. The $20 million would be used to support others similarly targeted by the government and Columbia University.
The Justice Department's main rationale for detaining Khalil was based on an infrequently-cited law that gives the sitting secretary of state the power to deport any illegal immigrant who presents 'potentially serious adverse foreign policy consequences for the United States.' However, as of the current publicly available records, there is no evidence of involvement from Secretary of State Marco Rubio in Khalil’s case or lawsuit.
Khalil was arrested in his New York apartment on March 8, 2025, amid a crackdown by the Trump administration on pro-Palestinian campus protests, which former President Trump had vowed to "crush" due to claims of antisemitism within the movement. Khalil's lawyers describe the arrest as a kidnapping and criticize the administration for keeping him in a Louisiana ICE facility, far away from his wife and family.
On June 21, District Judge Michael Farbiarz authorized the release of Khalil, deeming him not to be a threat to the community or a flight risk. Representatives for Khalil have said that he would accept an official apology from the government in lieu of payment. The Center for Constitutional Rights, which submitted the claim on Khalil's behalf, must wait six months to file the actual lawsuit so agencies have time to conduct their own investigation prior to trial.
Khalil's detention has had a significant impact on his life. He missed his Columbia graduation and the birth of his son due to his detention. The lawsuit also mentions that Khalil lost 15 pounds due to the poor quality food during his detention and that he was subjected to cold temperatures and sleep deprivation due to the lights always being on.
As a matter of policy, Trump has been making demands of prestigious higher education institutions like Harvard University, ordering them to dismantle their DEI initiatives and affirmative action programs. Khalil was released from immigration custody on June 21 and was greeted by hundreds of people, including New York Representative Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez.
In summary:
- Mahmoud Khalil, a former graduate student of Columbia University and a pro-Palestinian protest leader, filed a $20 million lawsuit against the Trump administration on July 10, 2025. - The suit alleges unlawful arrest, false imprisonment, malicious prosecution, and intentional infliction of emotional distress related to his detention by ICE for over 100 days in 2025. - The claim, filed as an administrative complaint under the Federal Tort Claims Act of 1946, accuses the Trump administration, including the Departments of Homeland Security and State, of orchestrating his deportation "in a manner calculated to terrorize him and his family." - Khalil's detention occurred after ICE agents arrested him in his New York apartment, amid a crackdown by the Trump administration on pro-Palestinian campus protests. - The lawsuit states that this mistreatment caused Khalil severe emotional and economic harm, damage to his reputation, and violation of his First and Fifth Amendment rights. - Khalil, an Algerian citizen of Palestinian descent and a green card holder married to a U.S. citizen, has stated he would accept an official apology and abandonment of the administration’s policy instead of monetary compensation. - The $20 million would be used to support others similarly targeted by the government and Columbia University. - The Justice Department's main rationale for detaining Khalil was based on an infrequently-cited law that gives the sitting secretary of state the power to deport any illegal immigrant who presents 'potentially serious adverse foreign policy consequences for the United States.' - As of the current publicly available records, there is no evidence of involvement from Secretary of State Marco Rubio in Khalil’s case or lawsuit. - Khalil's lawyers describe the arrest as a kidnapping and criticize the administration for keeping him in a Louisiana ICE facility, far away from his wife and family. - On June 21, District Judge Michael Farbiarz authorized the release of Khalil, deeming him not to be a threat to the community or a flight risk. - Representatives for Khalil have said that he would accept an official apology from the government in lieu of payment. - The Center for Constitutional Rights, which submitted the claim on Khalil's behalf, must wait six months to file the actual lawsuit so agencies have time to conduct their own investigation prior to trial. - Mahmoud Khalil, a former graduate student at Columbia University, plans to sue the Trump administration for $20 million over his alleged wrongful detention for over 100 days.
- The suit filed by Mahmoud Khalil, a former Columbia University graduate student and pro-Palestinian protest leader, under the Federal Tort Claims Act of 1946, alleges that the Trump administration, including the Departments of Homeland Security and State, orchestrated his deportation.
- The lawsuit further accuses the Trump administration of violating Khalil's First and Fifth Amendment rights, causing him severe emotional and economic harm, damage to his reputation, and intentional infliction of emotional distress.
- In addition to seeking monetary compensation, Khalil has stated that he would accept an official apology and the abandonment of the administration’s policy that targeted him, and the money would be used to support others similarly targeted and Columbia University.
