Mahmoud Khalil, a Columbia University student and outspoken pro-Palestinian advocate, is demanding $20 million in damages from the Trump administration, claiming false imprisonment and malicious prosecution.
He was held in detention for over 100 days by U.S. immigration authorities.
On Thursday, Khalil’s legal team filed a claim against the Departments of Homeland Security (DHS) and State, a procedural step required before suing the government under federal law.
The agencies have six months to formally respond.
A spokesperson from DHS dismissed the demand, calling it "absurd," and defended the Trump administration’s actions as being within legal bounds.
Khalil, a 30-year-old permanent U.S. resident of Palestinian heritage, was arrested in March amid the administration’s efforts to deport him. Officials alleged that his pro-Palestinian activism was detrimental to U.S.-Israel relations. He was eventually released on June 20 following a high-profile legal battle in which his attorneys accused the administration of targeting him for his political views.
"I hope this would serve as a deterrent for the administration," Khalil said in a statement to Reuters. "Trump made it clear he only understands the language of money."
In addition to financial compensation, Khalil is seeking a formal apology and a pledge from the administration to refrain from detaining or deporting individuals based on their pro-Palestinian speech.
President Donald Trump has previously described protests against Israel’s military actions in Gaza as antisemitic and has promised to deport foreign students who participate in them.
Khalil was the first individual apprehended under this policy, prompting widespread condemnation from civil rights advocates and pro-Palestinian organisations, who argue that dissent against Israeli government policies is not equivalent to antisemitism.
In June, U.S. District Judge Michael Farbiarz of New Jersey ruled in Khalil’s favor, stating that the administration had violated his First Amendment rights. The judge granted Khalil bail as he continues to contest the government’s deportation efforts.