Palestinian Activist Mahmoud Khalil Sues Trump Administration for $20 Million Over Detention

Mahmoud Khalil, a Palestinian-American activist and Columbia University graduate, has filed a $20 million claim against President Donald Trump's administration for his unlawful arrest, prolonged detention, and attempted deportation. Khalil alleges that the government targeted him for his pro-Palestinian activism, subjected him to false imprisonment, malicious prosecution, and emotional distress, and that Secretary of State Marco Rubio's determination to deport him was politically motivated to protect U.S. foreign policy interests, particularly relations with Israel. Khalil was detained for 104 days, during which he missed the birth of his first child and endured harsh detention conditions before being released after a federal judge ruled the deportation effort likely unconstitutional. The Trump administration has defended its actions, with Homeland Security accusing Khalil of terrorizing Jewish students and branding him antisemitic, while Khalil and his legal team maintain that his activism was peaceful and that the administration's actions constitute political retaliation and abuse of power. Khalil is seeking accountability, either through the monetary claim or an official apology and cessation of policies targeting pro-Palestinian speech. His case has drawn attention from civil rights groups and sparked debate over the conflation of criticism of Israel with antisemitism under the current administration's policies.