Former Columbia Student Sues University After 104 Days in ICE Detention

A prominent pro-Palestinian activist who spent more than three months in federal immigration custody filed a federal lawsuit against Columbia University on Monday, alleging the institution failed to protect students from severe harassment and retaliated against their activism.

Mahmoud Khalil, a former Columbia graduate student and a leading spokesperson during campus protests, filed the complaint in a New York federal court alongside student organizer Mohammad Zubairi and an affiliated student group.

The lawsuit claims university administrators exhibited “deliberate indifference” after students repeatedly reported targeted doxxing, stalking, and threats. Instead of intervening, the complaint alleges, Columbia monitored pro-Palestinian students, retained private investigators, and amended campus disciplinary rules to frame protected expression as a safety hazard.

104 Days in Immigration Custody

In March 2025, U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) officers took Khalil into custody at his university-owned residence. He was subsequently detained for 104 days at a federal facility in Louisiana, causing him to miss the birth of his first child.

A federal judge later ordered Khalil's release, though deportation proceedings against him remain pending. The lawsuit argues Columbia's failure to confront harassment campaigns left pro-Palestinian students vulnerable to escalating public exposure that ultimately contributed to his detention.

The plaintiffs are seeking unspecified damages, the restoration of Khalil's campus access, and the lifting of administrative suspensions placed on the student organization.

Columbia University did not comment directly on the specific claims in the filing. A university spokesperson stated that fostering a safe, supportive, and welcoming environment for every campus member is a foundational responsibility, emphasizing the school's commitment to addressing discrimination and harassment.