Mahmoud Khalil Sues Columbia, Alleging Indifference To Harassment And Link To ICE Detention
Mahmoud Khalil filed a federal civil-rights lawsuit in New York City on Monday, September 14, 2026, accusing Columbia University of failing to address harassment of pro-Palestinian students and of retaliating when they reported it.[1]
The complaint alleges Columbia's "deliberate indifference" led to the doxing of multiple group members and to Khalil's March 2025 detention by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents at his on-campus apartment.[1] The suit says Columbia refused to correct "disinformation" about Khalil while he was detained, which the complaint says further fueled peer harassment of Palestinian and perceived Arab or Muslim students.[1] The lawsuit seeks a court order restoring Khalil's campus access, ending the Palestinian group's suspension, and monetary damages, and it lists the group and its president, Mohammad Zubairi, as co-plaintiffs.[1] At a news conference announcing the case, Khalil accused Columbia of "discrimination aimed at intimidating Palestinian students" and said no student should "go through the hell that Columbia put us through over all these years." PBS Columbia declined to comment on the merits of the suit but emailed that it is committed to ensuring all community members feel "welcome, supported, and safe." PBS
In March 2025, Khalil says U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents detained him at his on-campus apartment, an event the complaint ties to the university's alleged indifference.[1] The complaint also alleges administrators branded pro-Palestinian group events as security risks and revised disciplinary policies in ways the plaintiffs say targeted criticism of the Israeli government instead of investigating reported harassment.[1]
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📌 Key Facts
- On Monday, September 14, 2026, Mahmoud Khalil filed a federal civil-rights lawsuit in New York City accusing Columbia University of failing to address harassment against him and members of a pro-Palestinian campus group and of retaliating when they reported it.
- The complaint alleges Columbia's "deliberate indifference" led to the March 2025 detention of Khalil by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents at his on-campus apartment and to the doxing of multiple group members.
- Khalil's suit says Columbia refused to correct "disinformation" about him while he was detained, which he alleges further fueled peer harassment of Palestinian and perceived Arab or Muslim students.
- The complaint asserts that, instead of investigating reported harassment, Columbia retaliated by branding pro-Palestinian group events as security risks and revising disciplinary policies in ways the plaintiffs say targeted criticism of the Israeli government.
- The lawsuit seeks a court order restoring Khalil's access to campus, ending the Palestinian group's suspension, monetary damages to be determined at trial, and lists the group and its president Mohammad Zubairi as co-plaintiffs.
- At a news conference on September 14, 2026 announcing the suit, Khalil accused Columbia of "discrimination aimed at intimidating Palestinian students" and said no student should "go through the hell that Columbia put us through over all these years."
- Columbia declined to comment on the merits of the suit but issued an email statement saying the university is committed to ensuring all community members feel "welcome, supported, and safe" and to responding promptly to discrimination and harassment concerns, according to the report.
📰 Source Timeline (2)
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- On Monday, September 14, 2026, Mahmoud Khalil filed a federal civil-rights lawsuit in New York City accusing Columbia University of failing to address harassment against him and members of a pro-Palestinian campus group and of retaliating when they reported it.
- The complaint alleges Columbia's 'deliberate indifference' led to the doxing of multiple group members and to Khalil's March 2025 detention by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents at his on-campus apartment.
- Khalil's suit claims Columbia refused to correct 'disinformation' about him while he was detained, which he says fueled further peer harassment of Palestinian and perceived Arab or Muslim students.
- The lawsuit asserts that instead of investigating harassment, Columbia retaliated by branding pro-Palestinian group events as security risks and revising disciplinary policies in ways that targeted criticism of the Israeli government.
- At a September 14, 2026 news conference announcing the suit, Khalil accused Columbia of 'discrimination aimed at intimidating Palestinian students' and said 'no student, regardless of their background, should go through the hell that Columbia put us through over all these years.'
- The lawsuit seeks a court order restoring Khalil's access to campus, ending the Palestinian group's suspension, and monetary damages to be determined at trial, and lists the group and its president Mohammad Zubairi as co-plaintiffs.
- Columbia declined to comment on the merits of the suit but issued an email statement saying it is committed to ensuring all community members feel 'welcome, supported, and safe' and to responding promptly to discrimination and harassment concerns.