Mahmoud Khalil, a Columbia University activist and Syrian-born U.S. resident, is suing the Trump administration for $20 million, claiming he was wrongly detained over alleged terror ties. The government calls the claim “absurd,” defending its efforts to deport him based on national security concerns.
Key Facts:
- Mahmoud Khalil, a 30-year-old Syrian-born U.S. resident, was detained by ICE in March during a deportation attempt by the Trump administration.
- Khalil is a prominent pro-Palestinian activist and leader of Columbia University’s Apartheid Divest group.
- He claims he was falsely imprisoned for more than 100 days and is seeking $20 million in damages.
- The government alleges he hid prior employment with UNRWA in his visa paperwork, a potential deportation offense.
- A DHS spokesperson dismissed Khalil’s claim as “absurd,” saying the detention was lawful.
The Rest of The Story:
Mahmoud Khalil, who has permanent U.S. residency, was arrested in early March by ICE agents.
He was detained for more than three months while the Trump administration attempted to deport him, arguing that he supported terrorism and had concealed information on his immigration documents.
Khalil, a Columbia University student, has led Apartheid Divest, a campus group involved in anti-Israel activism.
In April, student activists chained themselves to university gates in protest, alleging that a board trustee alerted ICE about Khalil.
The U.S. government later claimed Khalil failed to disclose past work for the United Nations Relief and Works Agency (UNRWA) on his visa application—an omission that could warrant removal.
The Trump administration has frequently criticized UNRWA, linking it to Hamas and other anti-Israel activity.
On Thursday, Khalil’s attorneys submitted a $20 million claim for false imprisonment and malicious prosecution under a federal statute that requires individuals to file a claim before pursuing a lawsuit.
The Department of Homeland Security has six months to respond.
A DHS spokesperson rejected the allegations outright, stating the administration acted “well within its legal authority” in detaining Khalil and pushing for deportation.
Mahmoud Khalil demands $20M or an apology from Trump.@marcorubio, can we expedite deportation?
He openly supports destroying America. pic.twitter.com/s9n2u42UcV
— Gunther Eagleman™ (@GuntherEagleman) July 11, 2025
Commentary:
Khalil’s lawsuit isn’t just a long shot—it’s a direct challenge to the Trump administration’s legitimate efforts to protect national security.
The administration acted within its rights to investigate and detain someone with alleged links to terror-affiliated organizations.
The fact that Khalil worked for UNRWA, an agency long criticized for tolerating anti-Israel extremism, is not a minor oversight.
If he deliberately hid that employment from his visa application, then legal grounds for deportation are firmly in place.
Trying to spin this into a $20 million claim is outrageous.
No one is entitled to immunity from immigration laws because they’re politically active or enrolled in an Ivy League school.
Being a campus activist doesn’t grant a free pass to deceive federal authorities.
Khalil’s leadership in a group like Apartheid Divest, which promotes hostility toward Israel and flirts with extremist rhetoric, raises serious red flags.
His presence here poses a potential threat if the allegations are accurate—and the Trump administration had every reason to act decisively.
This lawsuit appears more like political theater than a serious legal grievance. It’s designed to provoke outrage, not win in court.
And it likely won’t. The facts do not support the claim of “false imprisonment” when the detention was backed by national security concerns.
The administration should not back down. The United States has a right—and a responsibility—to remove individuals who mislead immigration authorities or show sympathy for violent ideologies.
Khalil’s defenders might see him as a hero. But the record suggests he’s more closely aligned with anti-American sentiment and pro-Hamas sympathies than with peaceful dissent.
There’s no room in the U.S. for individuals who advocate for regimes or movements rooted in terror.
Khalil’s deportation, if carried out, would be a justified and overdue step toward upholding both security and immigration law.
The Bottom Line:
Khalil’s lawsuit against the Trump administration reads more like a publicity stunt than a valid legal case.
The government had every right to detain him based on alleged visa fraud and possible ties to terror-linked groups.
There’s little chance this claim will succeed, and even less reason the U.S. should tolerate activists with a soft spot for extremism.
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