Palestinian activist Mahmoud Khalil, whose efforts to fight the Trump Administration\u2019s efforts to deport him have became a major flashpoint, sued Columbia University on Monday, alleging the Manhattan school failed to address harassment against him and other members of a pro-Palestinian campus group and retaliated against them when they reported it.<\/p>\n
The university\u2019s \u201cdeliberate indifference\u201d led to the doxing of multiple group members and Khalil\u2019s detention by immigration agents, according to the civil rights lawsuit filed in federal court in New York City.<\/p>\n
The university declined to comment directly on the lawsuit, but said in an email that \u201ccreating a campus environment where every member of our community feels welcome, supported, and safe is fundamental to who we are as a University.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cColumbia is committed to protecting our community from discrimination and harassment, and responding promptly and appropriately when concerns arise,\u201d it said.<\/p>\n
Khalil also sued Columbia last year to block the release of student records to a congressional committee.<\/p>\n
A former graduate student at Columbia University, Khalil gained prominence as a spokesperson for student activists protesting Israel\u2019s<\/a> actions in Gaza as encampments on the Columbia campus gained national attention.<\/p>\n U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents arrested him at his campus apartment in March 2025, and he quickly became the face of the Trump administration\u2019s crackdown<\/a> on pro-Palestinian demonstrators.<\/p>\n