• Mahmoud Khalil seeks $20 million from the Trump administration for wrongful detention.
• Khalil alleges false imprisonment and malicious prosecution related to his activism.
• He plans to share any settlement with others similarly targeted for pro-Palestinian speech.
• The Trump administration calls his claim "absurd," asserting it acted within its legal authority.
• Khalil missed the birth of his son while detained for 104 days in immigration custody.

Mahmoud Khalil, a pro-Palestinian activist and graduate of Columbia University, has filed a $20 million claim against the Trump administration, alleging false imprisonment and malicious prosecution. The claim, submitted as a precursor to a full lawsuit under the Federal Tort Claims Act, names the Department of Homeland Security, U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement, and the State Department as defendants. Khalil's detention lasted over three months during which he missed the birth of his first child, a heartrending experience he described as “something I will never forgive,” according to Los Angeles Times, HuffPost, and South China Morning Post.

In his filing, Khalil alleges that the Trump administration aimed to intimidate him into silence following his vocal support for pro-Palestinian causes. He emphasized that this claim is not merely for personal financial gain, stating, “It’s about accountability for the injustices that happened against me,” as reported by Reuters and ABC News.

Tricia McLaughlin, a spokesperson for the Department of Homeland Security, called Khalil's claims “absurd” and defended the administration's actions, stating they acted within their legal rights in detaining him. The claim accuses President Trump and his administration of conducting a “campaign to terrorize him and his family,” which included illegally targeting Khalil based on his political activism, according to Le Monde, TRT Global, and Middle East Eye.

Khalil’s wrongful detention began on March 8, when he was taken from his apartment by plainclothes federal agents who allegedly did not present a warrant. Following a federal judge’s decision on June 20 to release him, Khalil stated, “They are abusing their power because they think they are untouchable,” reflecting a broader concern over the administration’s approach to activists and dissenting voices, as reported by Al Jazeera and HuffPost.

He has expressed hopes that his case will lead to changes in policies that suppress free speech, particularly relating to criticism of Israeli government actions. Khalil’s legal struggle continues as he faces potential deportation despite being a lawful permanent resident, illustrating the tense intersection of immigration enforcement and political expression in the U.S., according to CBS News, India Times, and Middle East Eye.