‘Columbia did not care’: Mahmoud Khalil files discrimination lawsuit

Mahmoud Khalil, a pro-Palestinian activist and former Columbia University student, filed a lawsuit against the university in federal court on Monday, claiming it showed "deliberate indifference" to harassment faced by pro-Palestinian students. Khalil, who spent months in immigration custody after being detained by ICE agents in March 2025, alleges that Columbia failed to address persistent and severe harassment despite repeated requests for help. The lawsuit also accuses the university of refusing to correct disinformation about Khalil during his detention, which further enabled peer-on-peer harassment against other Palestinian students with Arab or Muslim ancestry.

Khalil's legal action is part of a broader claim filed by members of SIPA’s Palestine Working Group (PWG), accusing the school and its dean, Keren Yarhi-Milo, of fostering an environment rife with discrimination. The lawsuit seeks to hold Columbia accountable for what it describes as years of anti-Palestinian discrimination, harassment, and retaliation against outspoken students advocating for Palestinian rights.

The filing comes amidst ongoing debates about free speech and institutional responsibility in handling protests and activism on campus, highlighting tensions between student advocacy groups and university administration regarding support for marginalized communities.