Mahmoud Khalil, the poster child for Columbia University’s anti-Israel protest circus, is back in the spotlight, and this time he’s swinging for the fences with a $20 million claim against the Trump administration. Apparently, getting detained by ICE for over 100 days wasn’t enough drama for the former grad student. Now he’s crying foul, alleging false imprisonment, malicious prosecution, and—gasp!—being smeared as an antisemite. Poor Mahmoud, caught in the crosshairs of accountability, or so he’d have us believe.

Let’s rewind to spring 2024, when Khalil was a lead negotiator for Columbia’s Gaza Solidarity Encampment, a tent city that turned the Ivy League campus into a stage for anti-Israel fervor. As students chanted and waved signs, Khalil emerged as a vocal figure, never shying away from the cameras. His role? Orchestrating protests that, according to the Department of Homeland Security, “aligned with Hamas,” a group the U.S. designates as a terrorist organization. Yet, Khalil seems utterly incapable of mustering even a whisper of condemnation for Hamas’s actions, like the October 7, 2023, attack that left 1,200 Israelis dead and hundreds taken hostage. Curious, isn’t it?

Khalil, a green-card-holding Palestinian born in a Syrian refugee camp, was nabbed by ICE on March 8, 2025, right in the lobby of his university-owned apartment. The feds, acting on State Department orders, initially targeted his student visa before pivoting to his green card status, claiming his activism posed “adverse foreign policy consequences.” Translation: the Trump administration isn’t keen on letting Hamas cheerleaders waltz freely on American soil. Secretary of State Marco Rubio didn’t mince words, posting on X that visas and green cards of “Hamas supporters” would be revoked faster than you can say “deportation.”

Now, Khalil’s legal team is pulling out all the stops, filing a claim under the Federal Tort Claims Act against DHS, ICE, and the State Department. They’re calling the detention a “haphazard and illegal campaign” to terrorize Khalil and his family. Oh, the irony—accusing the government of terror while sidestepping Hamas’s actual terrorism. Khalil’s even got the audacity to demand a $20 million payout or, in a pinch, an apology and a policy overhaul. Because nothing says “I’m the victim here” like a multi-million-dollar shakedown.

The Trump administration isn’t backing down. They’re appealing the court order that sprung Khalil from a Louisiana detention center in June 2025, where he spent 104 days contemplating his life choices. New allegations have surfaced, accusing Khalil of fudging details on his green card application—like failing to mention his work with the UNRWA and the British Embassy in Beirut. His lawyers are screaming “retaliation,” but when you’re caught omitting key details, maybe it’s not the government’s fault you’re in hot water.

Let’s talk about those protests at Columbia. The university’s Office of Institutional Equity slapped Khalil with 13 allegations, including organizing an “unauthorized marching event” that allegedly glorified Hamas’s October 7 attack and sharing social media posts critical of Zionism. Khalil’s defense? “I had nothing to do with those posts!” Sure, Mahmoud, sure. Columbia’s response was to threaten his graduation unless he signed an NDA, only backing off when his lawyer got involved. Sounds like the university knew they had a hot potato on their hands.

Khalil’s arrest wasn’t just a random Tuesday for ICE. It came after a doxxing campaign by groups like Betar US, who proudly handed his address to the feds. The Shirion Collective, an anti-antisemitism outfit, even sent DHS a memo urging Khalil’s removal. Meanwhile, the White House claimed Khalil distributed flyers with Hamas’s logo, though they’ve yet to produce the receipts. Khalil’s team denies this, but the lack of a clear condemnation of Hamas from the man himself speaks volumes. If you’re leading protests that cozy up to a terrorist group, don’t be shocked when the feds come knocking.

The legal saga continues, with Khalil’s attorneys filing motions to dismiss the new charges as “baseless.” They’re arguing his detention violates his First Amendment rights, painting him as a martyr for free speech. But let’s be real: free speech doesn’t mean a free pass to align with a group that’s been raining rockets on civilians since before Khalil was born. U.S. District Judge Michael Farbiarz, who ordered Khalil’s release, called the detention “highly unusual” for a green card holder, but the government’s still gunning for deportation, citing a 1952 law about “adverse foreign policy consequences.”

Khalil’s not just fighting for himself—he’s become a cause célèbre for the pro-Palestinian crowd. Demonstrations erupted in New York City after his arrest, with hundreds rallying at Foley Square and Washington Square Park, waving signs and chanting for his release. The Council on American-Islamic Relations called it a “blatant attack” on free speech, while the ACLU and NYCLU jumped into the legal fray, arguing his detention was unconstitutional. Even Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez chimed in, calling it “persecution based on political speech.” Funny how the same folks decrying “persecution” don’t bat an eye at Hamas’s actual persecution of innocents.

The Trump administration’s stance is clear: if you’re cozying up to Hamas, you’re not welcome here. President Trump himself took to Truth Social, labeling Khalil a “Radical Foreign Pro-Hamas Student” and promising more arrests. DHS Secretary Kristi Noem doubled down, saying advocating for violence or supporting terrorists means your “privilege” to stay in the U.S. is revoked. Khalil’s response? A defiant speech outside the Cathedral of St. John the Divine, where he called himself a “human rights defender” and “freedom fighter.” No mention of Hamas’s atrocities, though—just more talk about “Palestinian liberation.”

Khalil’s 104 days in detention didn’t humble him. Instead, he’s doubling down, vowing to keep protesting “even if they would k*ll me.” Bold words for someone who’s already got a newborn son and a wife, Noor Abdalla, who gave birth while he was locked up. Abdalla’s been vocal, pleading for his release so he could be there for their child’s birth. ICE denied that request, but Khalil’s now back in New York, ready to milk his “political prisoner” narrative for all it’s worth. His op-ed in the Columbia Spectator called his arrest an “abduction,” accusing the government of targeting him for his speech. Still no word on why he can’t bring himself to denounce Hamas.

The context here is a powder keg. Hamas’s October 7 attack sparked Israel’s war in Gaza, which has allegedly k*lled over 55,000 Palestinians, according to Gaza’s health ministry (which is run by Hamas). Columbia’s protests, led by groups like the Columbia University Apartheid Divest (CUAD), demanded divestment from companies tied to Israel and a ceasefire. CUAD’s rhetoric got spicier over time, with posts praising “armed resistance” and Hamas’s leadership. Khalil, a key player in CUAD, denies leading the group but admits to being a spokesperson. Splitting hairs much?

This isn’t just about Khalil—it’s a warning shot. The Trump administration’s using his case to flex its muscle, signaling that pro-Palestinian activism with even a whiff of Hamas support won’t fly. Other students, like Tufts’ Rümeysa Öztürk, have faced similar ICE scrutiny for their activism. Legal experts call this unprecedented, noting that deporting green card holders for speech is a slippery slope. Yet, when your speech aligns with a group that’s been a thorn in the side of U.S. allies for decades, don’t be surprised when the law comes calling.

Khalil’s $20 million claim is a bold move, but it’s hard to see it as anything but a publicity stunt. The government’s digging in, appealing his release and pushing new charges. Meanwhile, Khalil’s basking in the glow of his supporters, who see him as a symbol of resistance. But symbols don’t get a free pass when their actions—or inactions—raise red flags. Why can’t Khalil just say, “Hamas is bad”? That silence is louder than any megaphone he used at Columbia.

So, what’s the takeaway? Khalil’s playing the victim card while dodging accountability for his ties to a movement that’s flirted with terrorism. The Trump administration’s not perfect, but they’re not wrong to draw a line in the sand. If you’re going to lead protests that echo Hamas’s talking points, don’t cry when ICE shows up. Khalil’s lawsuit might make headlines, but it’s a long shot. In the meantime, he’s free, his family’s reunited, and he’s still shouting about “liberation.” But until he can condemn Hamas without flinching, his cries of injustice ring hollow.

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