Mahmoud Khalil Seeks $20 Million from Trump Administration for Alleged False Imprisonment

Mahmoud Khalil, a Syrian-born permanent U.S. resident and prominent pro-Palestinian activist, has filed a claim seeking $20 million in damages from the Trump administration. The claim, submitted on July 10, 2025, alleges false imprisonment, malicious prosecution, and emotional distress following his detention for over 100 days earlier this year. Khalil, a Columbia University student, was arrested in March after President Donald Trump vowed to crack down on foreign nationals involved in campus protests.

Khalil's legal team, supported by the Center for Constitutional Rights, states that he was unlawfully arrested, detained, and subjected to a campaign designed to "terrorize him and his family." They argue that the Trump administration's actions violated his constitutional rights, including free speech, and caused severe emotional distress and reputational damage. The claim is a precursor to a full-fledged lawsuit under the Federal Tort Claims Act.

The Trump administration, through the Department of Homeland Security, has called Khalil's claim "absurd." A DHS spokesperson stated that Khalil "terrorized Jewish students on campus" and that the administration acted "well within its statutory and constitutional authority" to detain him. Secretary of State Marco Rubio had invoked a rarely used provision of the Immigration and Nationality Act, arguing Khalil's presence posed "potentially serious adverse foreign policy consequences."

Khalil, who missed the birth of his first child while incarcerated, was released on June 20 after a federal judge in New Jersey ruled that his detention was "highly unusual" and likely unconstitutional. He has indicated he would accept an official apology and a commitment to cease targeting pro-Palestinian speech as an alternative to the monetary damages. His lawyers also stated that any funds received would be used to help other activists targeted by similar policies.

The case has drawn significant attention, with civil rights groups condemning Khalil's arrest as an attack on free speech and an abuse of immigration law. The Trump administration has maintained that Khalil's activism aligned with Hamas, a designated terrorist organization, a claim Khalil and his legal team vehemently deny. This legal battle highlights ongoing tensions surrounding free speech, immigration policy, and campus activism in the United States.