Columbia University Discrimination Lawsuit
Palestinian Activist Sues Columbia University Over Discrimination and Harassment Claims
Anonymous
Key Points
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The lawsuit names Columbia’s School of International and Public Affairs, its board and SIPA dean Keren Yarhi-Milo as defendants, alongside the university.
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Khalil has pursued separate litigation beyond the Columbia case: in July, he sued the Trump administration and several pro-Israel groups, alleging they conspired to target him and others in retaliation for their advocacy.
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The lawsuit comes amid Khalil’s continuing legal challenge to deportation; The Guardian reported that the case could ultimately be decided by the U.S. Supreme Court.
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Khalil became nationally prominent as a spokesperson during the pro-Palestinian encampments at Columbia, which drew widespread attention amid protests over Israel’s war in Gaza.
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Khalil was arrested by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement at his Columbia campus apartment, rather than at a protest or other public demonstration.
Palestinian activist Mahmoud Khalil sued Columbia University in federal court, alleging the school ignored years of harassment and threats against pro-Palestinian students. Courthouse News reported that Khalil claims Columbia's failure to act — and its characterization of pro-Palestinian events as security risks — enabled the spread of disinformation that contributed to his detention by federal immigration agents in March 2025.
Khalil, a legal permanent resident and former Columbia graduate student, spent 104 days in immigration custody. He missed the birth of his first child and continues fighting deportation from the Trump administration. The lawsuit names Columbia's board, the School of International and Public Affairs, and SIPA dean Keren Yarhi-Milo as defendants.
Harassment, Doxing, and Campus Silence
Bakersfield Now reported that Khalil alleges Columbia showed "deliberate indifference" to harassment targeting pro-Palestinian activists. The complaint claims the university failed to respond to persistent threats, doxxing campaigns, and disinformation about Khalil and other students. Columbia never investigated the harassment or took steps to stop it, Khalil argues.
Instead of addressing complaints, the lawsuit claims Columbia revised its disciplinary policies. The university's inaction allowed a toxic environment to develop, Khalil contends. He became a prominent spokesperson during pro-Palestinian encampments at Columbia, which drew widespread attention amid protests over Israel's war in Gaza.
Immigration Arrest Followed Campus Doxing
Khalil was arrested by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement at his campus apartment in March 2025 — not at a protest or public demonstration. The lawsuit alleges that harassment and misinformation spread across campus made him a visible target. Columbia's characterization of pro-Palestinian events as security risks, according to the complaint, helped create conditions that led to his detention.
Khalil had pursued activism on campus during peak attention to the Gaza conflict. His visibility, combined with doxing that exposed personal information, allegedly made him vulnerable to immigration enforcement action. The suit frames his arrest as a consequence of institutional failures rather than random enforcement activity.
Separate Legal Battles Over Retaliation
In July, Khalil sued the Trump administration and several pro-Israel groups, alleging they conspired to target him and other activists in retaliation for their advocacy. The Guardian reported that Khalil's deportation case could ultimately reach the U.S. Supreme Court. He continues to contest the government's deportation efforts while challenging Columbia in parallel litigation.
Columbia declined to comment specifically on the lawsuit. The university stated it is "committed to protecting its community from discrimination and harassment and responding appropriately to concerns." The school did not address the specific allegations about deliberate indifference or policy changes Khalil's complaint outlines.
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