Palestinian activist files $20 million claim against Trump administration over detention
TOI World Desk | TIMESOFINDIA.COM | Jul 11, 2025, 21:48 IST
( Image credit : AP )
Highlight of the story: Mahmoud Khalil, a Palestinian activist, has filed a $20 million claim against the Trump administration, alleging wrongful detention and malicious prosecution. Khalil, a legal U.S. resident, was detained for 104 days without charges, missing his son's birth. He argues his detention was politically motivated due to his pro-Palestinian views, a claim the government denies.
Mahmoud Khalil, a Palestinian activist and former graduate student at Columbia University, has filed a $20 million federal claim against the Trump administration, alleging wrongful detention, false imprisonment, and malicious prosecution. The claim, submitted on July 10 under the Federal Tort Claims Act, targets the Department of Homeland Security, Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), the State Department, and former President Donald Trump.
Khalil, a legal U.S. permanent resident, was detained on March 8 while returning home from dinner with his wife in New York City. He was apprehended by plainclothes federal agents and held for 104 days at an ICE detention center in Jena, Louisiana, without ever being formally charged.
During his time in custody, Khalil says he was subjected to harsh conditions, including denial of medication for stomach ulcers, being forced to sleep under bright lights, and being served inadequate food. He reported a weight loss of nearly 15 pounds and described the detention as “unbearable.” The most traumatic consequence, he said, was missing the birth of his son—an experience he called “unforgivable.”
In public statements and legal filings, Khalil and his attorneys argue that the arrest and detention were politically motivated, part of what they describe as a campaign of intimidation against pro-Palestinian voices in the United States. The Trump administration had celebrated Khalil’s arrest at the time, framing it as part of a broader crackdown on what it called "pro-terrorist, anti-Semitic, anti-American activity" on U.S. college campuses.
Khalil has consistently denied any ties to extremist organizations and emphasized that his activism focuses on opposing U.S. support for Israeli military operations in Gaza. He has also condemned antisemitism, insisting his views are political, not hateful.
A memo signed by Secretary of State Marco Rubio, obtained by Khalil's legal team, acknowledged that Khalil had not broken any laws. However, it argued that his political beliefs posed a threat to U.S. foreign policy interests, a rationale used to justify both his detention and attempted deportation.
On June 20, a federal judge ordered Khalil’s release, ruling that the attempt to deport him based on his political opinions likely violated the U.S. Constitution. Nevertheless, ICE has since accused Khalil of misrepresenting information on his green card application—allegations his lawyers describe as retaliatory and baseless.
Khalil said he would be willing to accept a formal apology and the retraction of the policy used to detain him in place of financial compensation. He also pledged to donate any settlement funds to organizations helping others who have suffered similar injustices.
“They are abusing their power because they think they are untouchable. Unless there is some sort of accountability, it will continue to go unchecked,” Khalil told reporters.
The Department of Homeland Security has dismissed his claim as “absurd,” while the State Department insists all actions taken were lawful. The case is expected to test the limits of federal power in immigration enforcement and could have broader implications for how the U.S. treats political dissent among non-citizens.
Khalil, a legal U.S. permanent resident, was detained on March 8 while returning home from dinner with his wife in New York City. He was apprehended by plainclothes federal agents and held for 104 days at an ICE detention center in Jena, Louisiana, without ever being formally charged.
During his time in custody, Khalil says he was subjected to harsh conditions, including denial of medication for stomach ulcers, being forced to sleep under bright lights, and being served inadequate food. He reported a weight loss of nearly 15 pounds and described the detention as “unbearable.” The most traumatic consequence, he said, was missing the birth of his son—an experience he called “unforgivable.”
In public statements and legal filings, Khalil and his attorneys argue that the arrest and detention were politically motivated, part of what they describe as a campaign of intimidation against pro-Palestinian voices in the United States. The Trump administration had celebrated Khalil’s arrest at the time, framing it as part of a broader crackdown on what it called "pro-terrorist, anti-Semitic, anti-American activity" on U.S. college campuses.
Khalil has consistently denied any ties to extremist organizations and emphasized that his activism focuses on opposing U.S. support for Israeli military operations in Gaza. He has also condemned antisemitism, insisting his views are political, not hateful.
A memo signed by Secretary of State Marco Rubio, obtained by Khalil's legal team, acknowledged that Khalil had not broken any laws. However, it argued that his political beliefs posed a threat to U.S. foreign policy interests, a rationale used to justify both his detention and attempted deportation.
On June 20, a federal judge ordered Khalil’s release, ruling that the attempt to deport him based on his political opinions likely violated the U.S. Constitution. Nevertheless, ICE has since accused Khalil of misrepresenting information on his green card application—allegations his lawyers describe as retaliatory and baseless.
Khalil said he would be willing to accept a formal apology and the retraction of the policy used to detain him in place of financial compensation. He also pledged to donate any settlement funds to organizations helping others who have suffered similar injustices.
“They are abusing their power because they think they are untouchable. Unless there is some sort of accountability, it will continue to go unchecked,” Khalil told reporters.
The Department of Homeland Security has dismissed his claim as “absurd,” while the State Department insists all actions taken were lawful. The case is expected to test the limits of federal power in immigration enforcement and could have broader implications for how the U.S. treats political dissent among non-citizens.