Mahmoud Khalil Sues Columbia Over Green Card Arrest
You are a green card holder on a US university campus. You report threats, harassment, and doxxing to administrators — repeatedly, for two years. The day before federal agents arrest you at your apartment, you email the university president begging for help. No one acts. That is what Mahmoud Khalil says happened to him. On September 14, 2026, Khalil announced he has sued Columbia University, accusing it of deliberate indifference that he says directly enabled his March 2025 ICE arrest and the ongoing effort to deport him.
Khalil, a Palestinian-born green card holder, was a graduate student at Columbia's School of International and Public Affairs (SIPA) when immigration agents arrested him at his university apartment on March 8, 2025. He was the first of several foreign nationals the Trump administration detained over pro-Palestinian advocacy. He missed the birth of his first son while in detention and was released in June 2025, but his deportation case continues — a legal battle expected to reach the US Supreme Court.
What the 60-page lawsuit says
Khalil and members of SIPA's Palestine Working Group filed a 60-page complaint in the Southern District of New York. The defendants are Columbia University, its board of trustees, and SIPA dean Keren Yarhi-Milo. The complaint accuses them of "deliberate indifference" to "severe, persistent, and coordinated harassment" targeting Khalil and other students who spoke out about Palestinian rights. According to the lawsuit, Columbia's failure to act "directly led to Mr. Khalil's March 8, 2025, illegal detainment and attempted deportation." Students say they repeatedly reported doxxing campaigns — including their photos and personal information posted online and on mobile billboard trucks — and received no meaningful protection. Instead, the university suspended SIPA's Palestine Working Group in May 2025, a suspension that remained in effect as of the filing date.
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"For over two years, we pleaded with Columbia, and Columbia did not care," Khalil wrote in a statement. "Columbia laid the groundwork for my targeting by the Trump administration through its deliberate indifference and discrimination aimed at intimidating Palestinian students." A Columbia spokesperson declined to comment on the pending litigation but said the university is "committed to protecting our community from discrimination and harassment." Khalil's attorney Brittany Finley put it plainly: "Columbia knew what was happening on its campus, and it chose indifference over action."
This lawsuit is one of several Khalil has filed. In July 2026 he sued the Trump administration and several pro-Israel groups, alleging a conspiracy to punish him for his advocacy. He has also filed a $20 million false imprisonment and malicious prosecution case against the administration, and a separate suit seeking records of alleged government coordination with doxxing groups including Canary Mission. Khalil warned that more lawsuits are coming, targeting individuals at Columbia he holds responsible for what students endured.
What this means for other green card holders on campuses
Khalil's case is a concrete example of how advocacy activity, combined with a university's failure to protect a student, can intersect with immigration enforcement. Green card holders have constitutional rights — including First Amendment free speech protections — but those rights do not automatically shield them from removal proceedings. If a university shares disciplinary records with Congress or cooperates with federal agencies, that information can be used in immigration court. Khalil filed an earlier lawsuit in March 2025 specifically to stop Columbia from handing student disciplinary records to the House Committee on Education and the Workforce.
What to do
- If you are a green card holder facing harassment or doxxing on campus, document every incident in writing and report it formally to university administrators — keep copies of all emails and responses.
- If your university opens disciplinary proceedings against you, consult an immigration lawyer immediately. Disciplinary records can be requested by federal agencies and used in removal proceedings.
- If ICE contacts you or comes to your home, you have the right to remain silent and the right to speak with an attorney before answering questions. Do not sign any documents without legal counsel.
- If you believe your university is sharing your records with Congress or federal agencies, an immigration attorney can advise you on filing an emergency motion to block that disclosure, as Khalil did in March 2025.
What to do, step by step — see our guide “Adjustment of Status (I-485)”.
Fishkin Law Firm, New York
Green card holders enjoy First Amendment protections, but the government can still initiate removal proceedings based on conduct it characterizes as a threat to foreign policy — a broad and contested legal standard that Khalil's case is actively challenging. If you are a permanent resident involved in political advocacy and you receive any communication from ICE or a federal agency, treat it as urgent: you have the right to counsel, and early legal intervention can be the difference between staying in the country and facing a deportation order. An immigration attorney can also seek a stay of removal while your case is pending, buying critical time. Consult a qualified immigration lawyer before speaking to any federal agent or university official acting on a government request.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can the US government deport a green card holder for political speech or advocacy?
The government has tried, using a rarely invoked provision that allows deportation if the Secretary of State determines a person's presence poses a threat to US foreign policy. Khalil's case is directly challenging this authority, and the matter is expected to be decided by the US Supreme Court. Green card holders do have First Amendment rights, but those rights are being tested in court right now.
Can a university share my student records with Congress or federal agencies?
Under FERPA (the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act), universities generally cannot share your records without your consent — but there are exceptions, including lawful court orders and certain congressional subpoenas. Khalil filed a lawsuit in March 2025 specifically to block Columbia from handing his disciplinary records to a House committee. If you face a similar situation, an attorney can seek an emergency court order to stop the disclosure.
What rights do I have if ICE agents come to my home or university apartment?
You have the right to remain silent. You do not have to open the door unless agents show you a judicial warrant signed by a judge (not just an administrative ICE warrant). You have the right to speak with an attorney before answering any questions. Do not sign any documents. Calmly state: 'I am exercising my right to remain silent and my right to speak with an attorney.'
If my university opens a disciplinary case against me, can that hurt my green card?
It can. Disciplinary records can be subpoenaed by federal agencies or Congress and used as evidence in immigration proceedings. A finding of misconduct — even a suspension — could be cited in a removal case. Talk to an immigration lawyer as soon as you receive any notice of disciplinary action, before you respond to the university.