Mahmoud Khalil claims Trump admin waged ‘lawfare’ against his ‘speech’

Khalil, who had his visa revoked after organizing and leading pro-Palestinian demonstrations at Columbia's campus and chanting slogans calling for the eradication of Israel, has filed a claim against the Trump administration for $20 million in damages. This comes after his release from federal custody in an immigration detention centerpending the result of his deportation case. Khalil has a green card.

While appearing on MSNBC, he claimed, "The Trump administration is waging lawfare against me. They're taking every opportunity to slow down the process to bring me back to prison, because their ultimate goal is to punish me for my speech and they're trying to do everything possible to do that."

He said that he is "confident" that he will "prevail" in his immigration case as well as now with his complaint against the Trump administration for $20 million.

During the Columbia Gaza encampments, protesters smashed windows and occupied Hamilton Hall, an administrative building on campus. Workers were also stuck inside when the agitators entered to occupy the building. Those workers who were trapped brought suit against the school for not controlling the agitators.

Khalil's visa was revoked over his role in the encampment, and the DOJ said that he failed to disclose that he worked for the UNRWA on his visa application, an organization with employees that participated in the October 7 terror attack in Israel.

The Department of Homeland Security then had him arrested and held in a Louisiana immigration detention center. He was released on orders from a judge last month, and on Thursday, he filed the $20 million claim, alleging that he was falsely imprisoned and had been smeared as antisemitic.