Mahmoud Khalil, a Palestinian activist, filed a lawsuit against Columbia University on September 14, 2026, claiming the institution failed to address harassment against him and other members of a pro-Palestinian campus group and retaliated against them for reporting it. The civil rights lawsuit, filed in federal court in New York City, alleges that the university's 'deliberate indifference' resulted in the doxing of several group members and Khalil's detention by immigration agents.
At a news conference, Khalil stated that the university's actions constituted 'discrimination aimed at intimidating Palestinian students.' He expressed that no student should endure the treatment they received from Columbia over the years. The university did not comment on the lawsuit but emphasized its commitment to creating a welcoming and safe campus environment.
Khalil previously sued Columbia in 2025 to prevent the release of student records to a congressional committee. His prominence grew as a spokesperson for student activists protesting Israel's actions in Gaza. In March 2025, U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents arrested him at his campus apartment, leading to a 104-day detention in a Louisiana immigration jail, during which he missed the birth of his first child. A federal judge in New Jersey later ordered his release, although his deportation case remains ongoing.
The current lawsuit claims that Columbia did not correct misinformation during Khalil's detention, allowing a false narrative about his actions to persist and contributing to harassment of other Palestinian students. It alleges that instead of investigating harassment reports, the university retaliated by labeling pro-Palestinian campus activities as security risks and modifying disciplinary policies to target criticism of the Israeli government.
Khalil also accused the university of surveilling pro-Palestinian students and employing private investigators to monitor him. The lawsuit seeks a court order to restore Khalil's access to the campus, lift the suspension of the pro-Palestinian group, and request damages to be determined at trial. The lawsuit also includes the pro-Palestinian group and its president, Mohammad Zubairi, as plaintiffs.