Activist Seeks Damages for Mistaken Arrest
NEW YORK – Mahmoud Halil found himself at home in Manhattan recently, cradling his 10-week-old son, while his partner awaited news from an immigration prison in Louisiana about the birth. It was a moment filled with juxtaposition—as Halil tried to wrap his head around the emotions of being a new father while his own freedom was in question.
Eventually, he spoke up, but his voice was heavy with emotion. “I can’t explain the pain that night,” he finally said. “This is something I will never allow.” His words reflected a deep sense of injustice.
A few weeks after his release, Halil initiated a $20 million claim against the Trump administration, asserting that he was wrongfully imprisoned, charged with malicious intent, and accused of anti-Semitic behavior as part of a governmental effort to silence him during his active role in campus protests.
This claim, a precursor to formal litigation under the Federal Tort Claims Act, targets various government entities, including the Department of Homeland Security and the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement.
Halil, a 30-year-old Columbia University graduate student, remains embroiled in ongoing deportation proceedings. He believes his case aims to signal that he will not be intimidated into silence.
“They abuse their power because they think they’re untouchable,” he expressed. “Unless they face accountability, nothing will change.”
He intends to share any settlement with others similarly affected by the administration’s measures against Palestinian voices, seeking not just compensation, but also an official apology and modifications to deportation policies.
In a statement, a spokesperson for Homeland Security dismissed Halil’s claims as “absurd” and accused him of threats against Jewish students. The State Department maintained that its actions against Halil were lawful, though inquiries to the White House and ICE went unanswered.
Allegations of Misuse of Power
The claim criticizes President Trump and other officials for allegedly using Halil’s arrest to “terrorize him and his family.” Halil recounts that on the night of his arrest, after dinner with his wife Noor Abdallah, he was effectively lured by federal agents who didn’t realize he was a legal resident.
He was taken to a remote immigration detention center in Jena, Louisiana—far from his family and legal representation. Inside, conditions were harsh. He reports being denied medication, forced to sleep under bright lights, and given food he found nearly inedible, resulting in a 15-pound weight loss. “I can’t remember a night I slept without feeling hungry,” he recalled.
Meanwhile, the Trump administration celebrated Halil’s arrest, vowing to suppress protests against Israel, branding participants as “professional terrorists.” Halil has consistently condemned anti-Semitism; despite this, he has not faced criminal charges and denies any affiliations with terrorist organizations. “At some point, it feels like a reality show,” he remarked, shaking his head at the absurdity of the accusations.
Challenging Deportation Based on Beliefs
Weeks into his detention, a fellow detainee informed him of a memo stating he should be deported not for illegal activity but due to beliefs seen as contrary to U.S. interests. “My belief is not what I want to fund with my taxes—for arms makers involved in genocide,” he stated, underscoring his convictions.
By then, Halil had gained a sort of notoriety among detainees. Even while navigating his own legal troubles, he assisted others in understanding their situations, recalling experiences from his time at the British Embassy in Beirut. “I’m pretty good at bureaucracy,” he joked.
At night, they found solace in card games, sharing stories filled with confusion and fear. “Those moments were incredibly heartbreaking,” he noted, highlighting that many felt unaware of their rights.
Reflections After Release
After 104 days in custody, Halil was released on June 20. However, new allegations have emerged, claiming he misrepresented information on his green card application. His legal team is challenging these accusations as retaliatory and without basis.
Since his release, Halil has experienced both joy and anxiety. He often finds himself avoiding large gatherings, recalling moments of happiness like watching his son swim for the first time this week, though it didn’t go smoothly. “It wasn’t very comfortable for him,” he said with a light laugh.
He strives to regain lost time with his family, attempting to navigate this new reality while also processing the ongoing violence against Palestinians in Gaza. The day after his arrest, he had led a march in Manhattan, draped in Palestinian flags.
As he prepared a bottle for Dean, Halil couldn’t help but reflect on whether he could have done anything differently. “We could have communicated better, built more bridges,” he mused. But ultimately, he remains steadfast in his moral obligation to oppose injustice wherever it occurs. “When you witness your people being slaughtered, it feels like an obligation,” he concluded.
