Palestinian activist sues Trump administration over detention

A Palestinian activist has initiated legal action against the Trump administration following his prolonged detention by immigration authorities despite holding lawful permanent resident status in the United States. Mahmoud Khalil, a Columbia University graduate and legal resident married to an American citizen, was detained for more than 100 days in what his lawsuit characterizes as retaliation for his political speech supporting Palestinian rights.

Targeted Detention and Alleged Coordination

According to reports, Khalil was apprehended without a warrant by Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents in New York City last March and subsequently transferred to a detention facility in Louisiana. His lawsuit alleges the Trump administration has refused to release records of its communications with pro-Israel organizations, suggesting coordination between government agencies and external groups that monitor and report on students critical of Israeli policies.

Use of External Group Information

Court proceedings revealed in July that ICE utilized information from Canary Mission and Betar, two organizations known for documenting and publicizing the activities of students who express pro-Palestinian views. These groups provided leads that immigration authorities used to identify and target foreign students, including Khalil, who had been vocal in their criticism of Israel's policies toward Palestinians.

Broader Pattern of Targeting

Khalil's case represents the first in a series of incidents where foreign students faced immigration enforcement actions after expressing political views supportive of Palestine. In his public statements, Khalil described "a smear and harassment campaign designed to intimidate and silence me," and called for "full accountability for every bad actor who helped make that possible," specifically mentioning individuals at Columbia University who he claims amplified false allegations against him.