Mahmoud Khalil filed a federal civil-rights lawsuit against Columbia University on September 14, 2026, accusing the school of “deliberate indifference” to anti-Palestinian harassment, doxxing and retaliation. The 60-page complaint also names the university’s Board of Trustees and Keren Yarhi-Milo, dean of the School of International and Public Affairs.
The case was filed in federal court in New York City. Khalil seeks restored campus access, an end to the suspension of the Palestine Working Group and monetary damages.
His immigration case continues separately. Khalil remains out of custody while contesting efforts to remove him from the United States.
The lawsuit also lists Mohammad Zubairi, president of the SIPA Palestine Working Group, as a co-plaintiff. The complaint invokes Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, related civil-rights claims and breach of contract.
Khalil said the case targets the university’s conduct, not the immigration agency’s arrest.
“I’m not suing Columbia for what ICE did. I’m suing Columbia for creating the conditions for ICE to do what it did”
He also framed the lawsuit as a challenge involving other students.
“We are suing because no student, regardless of their background, should go through the hell that Columbia put us through over all these years”
The complaint links campus harassment to Khalil’s arrest
The complaint says the university “failed to address the persistent and severe harassment” reported by Khalil and others. It alleges that the university’s conduct “directly led” to his arrest by ICE and attempted deportation.
Federal immigration agents arrested Khalil at his Columbia residence on March 8, 2025. He spent 104 days in detention and missed the birth of his first child before his release in June 2025.
The pleading alleges discrimination based on perceived Arab or Muslim ancestry, national origin and non-citizen status. It also accuses the university of failing to respond to threats, doxxing and coordinated harassment, followed by retaliation against complaints about that conduct.
The case arose amid a wider campus conflict cited as beginning with the Hamas-led attacks on October 7, 2023. The university indefinitely suspended the student group in May 2025.
The lawsuit asks for access, reinstatement and damages
The plaintiffs seek injunctive relief alongside financial compensation. The requested remedies include changes to Khalil’s campus status and the student group’s suspension.
| Party or requested relief | Detail |
|---|---|
| Columbia | Named as a defendant in the federal case |
| Board of Trustees | Named as a defendant |
| Keren Yarhi-Milo | Named as dean of the School of International and Public Affairs |
| Campus access | Khalil seeks restoration of access |
| Student group | The suit seeks to lift its suspension |
| Financial relief | Damages are “to be determined at trial” |
The case is pending in the Southern District of New York. Its defendants include the university, its trustees and Yarhi-Milo.
Khalil previously sued the university in March 2025 over disclosure of student disciplinary records to Congress. The new complaint raises separate allegations involving harassment, retaliation and access to campus.
The removal case remains active after an appellate ruling
Khalil’s removal proceedings have followed a different legal path. A federal appeals court in Philadelphia held that a district judge lacked jurisdiction after ordering Khalil’s release from custody.
That ruling did not resolve the immigration case. Khalil remains in active deportation proceedings, and a separate immigration challenge is ongoing.
The Board of Immigration Appeals issued a final order of removal in April 2026. Khalil’s release in June 2025 therefore did not settle whether he may remain in the United States.
The government arrested him on March 8, 2025, making him a prominent subject of efforts to deport pro-Palestinian foreign students. His civil complaint instead focuses on the university’s alleged actions before that arrest.
The two cases involve different defendants and legal questions. The removal matter concerns immigration status and possible deportation. The civil-rights case challenges the university’s alleged treatment of Khalil and other students.
Follow-up coverage appeared on September 15, 2026, as both legal fronts remained active. Khalil is a Palestinian former graduate student and lawful permanent resident.
This article provides general information and is not legal advice. Consult a qualified immigration attorney about your specific case.
