Mahmoud Khalil, a former Columbia University student and prominent Palestinian activist, has filed a federal lawsuit accusing the university of failing to protect him and other students involved in pro-Palestinian activism.
The lawsuit, filed in federal court in New York, alleges that Columbia did not adequately respond to reports of harassment, threats and the release of students’ personal information online. Khalil and the other plaintiffs say the university’s response created an increasingly hostile environment for students participating in pro-Palestinian activities.
Khalil became nationally known after his arrest by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement in March 2025. He was held in immigration detention for 104 days before being released. His immigration case remains ongoing.
In the new lawsuit, Khalil alleges that Columbia also imposed restrictions on pro-Palestinian events and monitored student activists.
He is seeking financial damages, restoration of his access to campus and reinstatement of the Palestine Working Group, a student organization that was suspended by the university.
Another student activist, Mohammad Zubairi, is also a plaintiff in the case.
Columbia has said it is committed to maintaining a safe and inclusive campus and protecting students from discrimination and harassment. The university has not directly addressed all of the allegations in the lawsuit.
The case comes amid continued debate over free speech, student activism and campus safety at colleges across the country. Khalil’s lawsuit is the second legal action he has brought involving Columbia University.
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