Mahmoud Khalil, the Columbia University student and pro-Palestinian activist detained by U.S. immigration authorities for over 100 days, has filed a $20 million claim against the Trump administration. The 30-year-old permanent resident alleges false imprisonment and malicious prosecution related to his 2024 detention.
Khalil’s legal team submitted the administrative claim Thursday against the Departments of Homeland Security and State. This procedural step, required before filing a lawsuit, gives government officials six months to respond. A DHS spokesperson dismissed the claim as “absurd,” maintaining the administration acted within its legal authority.
Freed from ICE detention, Mahmoud Khalil files $20 million claim against Trump administration https://t.co/Qgo1pobwUS pic.twitter.com/5iVKjBPbxY
— Orlando Sentinel (@orlandosentinel) July 10, 2025Authorities arrested Palestinian-American activist Khalil in March 2024, as the Trump administration sought his deportation, claiming his pro-Palestinian advocacy damaged U.S.-Israel relations. Throughout a lengthy legal battle, Khalil’s attorneys maintained that officials targeted him solely for his political views, violating constitutional protections. On June 20, a federal judge ordered Khalil’s release, ruling that his detention infringed upon his First Amendment rights.
“I hope this would serve as a deterrent for the administration,” Khalil told Reuters. “Trump made it clear he only understands the language of money.” The activist stated he would alternatively accept an official apology and policy changes protecting pro-Palestinian speech from being grounds for detention.
Former Columbia University graduate student Mahmoud Khalil has filed a claim for $20 million in damages against the Trump administration, alleging he was falsely imprisoned, maliciously prosecuted and smeared as an antisemite. https://t.co/MDzsIcFojs
— Freedom Forum (@1stForAll) July 10, 2025The case has become a flashpoint in debates about free speech and Middle East politics. While the Trump administration characterised protests against Israel’s Gaza actions as antisemitic, civil rights groups argue Khalil’s detention wrongly equated criticism of Israel with hatred of Jews. U.S. District Judge Michael Farbiarz ultimately ordered Khalil’s release, ruling that the government’s position was unconstitutional.
