Khalil, a former student leader and activist, has filed a $20 million wrongful detention claim against the Trump administration.
The legal action, filed on Thursday, accuses top government agencies of targeting him for his activism and holding him without just cause for over three months.
The case lists the Department of Homeland Security, Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), and the Department of State as responsible for what Khalil says was a deliberate attempt to damage his name and silence his political voice.
The claim alleges that federal authorities unfairly prosecuted him, detained him unlawfully, and attempted to intimidate him into silence.
Khalil was active in organising pro-Palestinian demonstrations at Columbia University and became a visible figure during campus protests. He now claims that his political stance made him a target of federal actions designed to suppress dissent.
He says he wants the legal action to send a message that federal power cannot be used to punish people for speaking out.
Khalil, who is still fighting deportation, stated that if he receives compensation, he will use the funds to support others facing similar retaliation for their views.
He is also seeking changes to the policies that led to his detention.
This claim could lead to a full lawsuit under the Federal Tort Claims Act, a legal pathway often used to challenge misconduct by federal agencies.
Activist Sues Trump Administration for $20 Million Over Detention and Retaliation
