Mahmoud Khalil Sues Columbia University Over Alleged Discrimination

<p>Mahmoud Khalil, an activist known for his anti-Israel stance, filed a lawsuit against Columbia University on Monday, alleging years of discrimination during his time as a student there. Khalil claims that the university fostered an environment hostile to students advocating for pro-Palestine views, particularly those perceived as Muslims, Arabs, non-citizens, and immigrants.</p><p>In the lawsuit, Khalil states that Columbia University exhibited 'deliberate indifference' to the harassment he and other members of the SIPA Palestine Working Group faced due to their advocacy. He alleges that the university's inaction contributed to his detainment and attempted deportation by the Trump administration in 2025.</p><p>The lawsuit details that during his detainment, Columbia University failed to correct misinformation regarding Khalil's role in student protests, which allegedly led to further harassment from peers. Khalil was arrested in 2025 at his university-owned apartment, where U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) informed him that they were revoking his green card. He was held for 104 days in a detention center in Louisiana before a federal judge ordered his release.</p><p>A Columbia University spokesperson stated that the institution could not comment on pending litigation but emphasized its commitment to creating a safe and welcoming environment for all students and addressing discrimination and harassment promptly.</p><p>Khalil's legal challenges continued as he faced a setback when a U.S. appeals panel ruled that his case must proceed through immigration court before it could be contested in federal court. In July, Khalil filed another lawsuit alleging that members of the Trump administration collaborated with pro-Israel organizations to target activists like him, claiming this violated the Ku Klux Klan Act.</p>