Mahmoud Khalil, a pro-Palestinian protester and Columbia University graduate, has initiated a lawsuit against the Trump administration and the Heritage Foundation, alleging a conspiracy against him. Khalil, a legal permanent resident married to a U.S. citizen, was detained by Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) in March 2025, but was released following a federal judge's order. The ongoing case raises the possibility of his deportation.
The lawsuit, filed in the Southern District of New York, accuses the Trump administration, the Heritage Foundation, Canary Mission, and Betar of conspiring to target pro-Palestinian students. Khalil claims that these groups collaborate to identify individuals for deportation based on their support for Palestinian rights.
The lawsuit cites the Ku Klux Klan Act, a federal law from 1871, arguing that government officials are prohibited from working with private individuals to deprive citizens of their constitutional rights. Khalil's attorneys have drawn parallels between the alleged actions of the government and historical injustices during the Jim Crow era.
The lawsuit describes the Heritage Foundation as the architect of a plan to punish Palestinians and their supporters for protesting against Israel amid the conflict in Gaza. Khalil is seeking an injunction to prevent the defendants from using unconstitutional grounds for detention and removal, as well as compensatory and punitive damages if the case proceeds.
Khalil expressed his determination to hold accountable those responsible for his 104-day detention, during which he missed the birth of his first child. He emphasized that the lawsuit represents a broader fight against efforts to silence dissent regarding Palestinian liberation.