Mahmoud Khalil claims $20 million against Trump for unjust detention
- Mahmoud Khalil was detained for over three months at a Louisiana immigration facility.
- He alleges mistreatment and claims that his arrest was politically motivated due to his activism.
- Khalil is seeking $20 million in damages and aims for accountability against governmental abuse.
In the United States, Mahmoud Khalil, a 30-year-old Palestinian activist and recent graduate student of Columbia University, filed a legal claim seeking $20 million in damages from the Trump administration. This legal action comes after his detention for over three months in a Louisiana immigration facility, where he alleged harsh treatment and a lack of legal justification for his arrest. Khalil's detention began on March 8, 2020, when he was taken by federal agents who he claims did not provide a warrant and seemed surprised he was a legal resident. He experienced poor conditions during his imprisonment and lost weight due to inadequate food. Khalil was arrested amid accusations that his activism against Israel’s policies constituted anti-Semitic behavior, claims he has strongly denied. His lawyers assert that the federal government sought to intimidate him and others involved in pro-Palestinian demonstrations through what they label as politically motivated actions. They argue that Khalil's detention was not just unlawful but also part of a broader strategy by the Trump administration to suppress dissent regarding its foreign policy in the Middle East. On June 20, 2020, a federal judge ordered his release from custody while the deportation case against him continued to navigate through the immigration court system. Khalil alleges the Trump administration is abusing power and sought to terrorize him and his family through retaliation for his political beliefs and activism. He has expressed a willingness to accept an official apology or changes to deportation policies instead of a financial settlement. Moving forward, Khalil stated he aims to use the settlement funds, if awarded, to support other students who faced similar retaliatory actions from the government, asserting the need for accountability in issues of political repression and abuse of power. This situation highlights the ongoing tensions within the United States regarding freedom of speech and the treatment of individuals involved in activism related to foreign policy.