Lawsuit Filed Against Trump for Retaliation: Demand for $20 Million in Compensation or Acknowledgment of Errors
The Gaza Strip, a location where the war in Gaza has taken place, is far away from the halls of Columbia University. Yet, the conflict in Gaza has found its way to the campus, with Mahmoud Khalil, a former student, becoming a central figure in the ongoing saga.
Mahmoud Khalil, a Palestinian-American organizer and head of student protests, was detained by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents in March 2025. His arrest was viewed by civil rights groups as part of a larger war on student activity that was against Israel.
Khalil, who was arrested after former President Donald Trump said that anti-Israel protests were the same as racism, was released from federal detention on June 20, 2025. However, his ordeal is far from over. He has recently filed a $20 million claim against the Trump administration for wrongful detention and related abuses.
According to his lawyers, the government wanted to remove Khalil because they thought his activity hurt ties between the U.S. and Israel. The legal case is ongoing, with support from civil rights organizations including the ACLU.
Khalil was the first detained by the Trump administration in its crackdown on immigrants supporting Palestinian rights. He was arrested without criminal charges, denied due process despite being a lawful permanent resident, and subjected to harsh detention conditions causing severe emotional distress and economic hardship.
The lawsuit centers on whether a permanent resident can be arrested and detained based on political speech. The initial habeas corpus petition and ongoing litigation challenge this detention. Civil rights groups accuse the administration of targeting pro-Palestinian activists and using immigration laws to suppress free speech.
The government publicly celebrated Khalil's detention as part of anti-terrorism efforts, which Khalil denies. His detention and arrest have been widely condemned as politically motivated violations of his First and Fifth Amendment rights.
As of July 2025, no final court ruling or settlement has been reported yet, so the case remains active. Al Bawaba, a news website that covers current events, has been following the case closely.
The Israeli occupation of Palestine is a significant factor in the ongoing conflict in Gaza. Hamas, a Palestinian militant group often associated with the conflict in Gaza, and Izz ad-Din al-Qassam Brigades, the armed wing of Hamas, are also involved. The war in Gaza has led to pro-Palestine protests at many colleges, including Columbia.
The government had previously stated that schools like Columbia and Harvard would lose money if they didn't protect Jewish students. However, the actions against Mahmoud Khalil are viewed by civil rights groups as part of a larger war on student activity that is against Israel.
[1] Al Bawaba News. (2025). Mahmoud Khalil Files $20 Million Lawsuit Against Trump Administration. [online] Available at: https://www.albawaba.com/news/mahmoud-khalil-files-20-million-lawsuit-against-trump-administration-1280886
[2] The Intercept. (2025). Palestinian Activist Mahmoud Khalil Sues Trump Administration for Wrongful Detention. [online] Available at: https://theintercept.com/2025/07/10/mahmoud-khalil-lawsuit-trump-administration/
[3] ACLU. (2025). Mahmoud Khalil's Case. [online] Available at: https://www.aclu.org/cases/mahmoud-khalil-s-case
[4] The New York Times. (2025). Palestinian Activist Sues Trump Administration Over Detention. [online] Available at: https://www.nytimes.com/2025/07/10/us/politics/mahmoud-khalil-lawsuit.html
- The detention of Mahmoud Khalil, a Palestinian-American organizer and former student at Columbia University, was viewed by civil rights groups as part of a larger war on student activity that was against Israel.
- Khalil, who was arrested without criminal charges and denied due process, recently filed a $20 million claim against the Trump administration for wrongful detention and related abuses.
- The ongoing lawsuit challenges the detention on grounds of political speech, with civil rights groups accusing the administration of targeting pro-Palestinian activists and suppressing free speech.
- The Israeli occupation of Palestine, the conflict in Gaza, and pro-Palestine protests at colleges like Columbia are all interconnected issues that continue to make headlines in general news, education-and-self-development, entertainment, business, politics, and music.
