Palestinian Activist Claims $20 Million from US Government

Mahmoud Khalil, a Palestinian activist, is pursuing a $20 million claim against the US government after being targeted for deportation and detained during the Trump administration.

According to the Constitutional Rights Center, Khalil seeks this amount to support others who have faced similar actions from both the Trump administration and Columbia University. The organization mentioned that he would accept an official apology along with the cessation of what they describe as unconstitutional policies, instead of monetary compensation.

The claim represents an early step towards a federal lawsuit based on the Federal Tort Claims Act, established in 1946, which allows individuals to sue for damages related to civil law violations.

Khalil previously encountered significant personal hardships, missing the birth of his first child while in custody this year.

Activists have alleged that Israel is committing acts of genocide against Gaza. Khalil expressed, “This is just the first step towards accountability. I can’t undo the 104 days that were taken from me— the trauma, the separation from my wife, and the birth of my child that I had to miss. Yet, the same government that wanted to deport me was using taxpayers’ money for what many consider the ongoing genocide in Israel.”

Homeland Security Director Tricia McLaughlin criticized Khalil’s claims, calling them absurd. She stated, “It was Khalil who caused fear among Jewish students on campus. Being granted a visa or green card is a privilege, and the Trump administration acted within its legal authority.” She further argued that actions taken were intended to protect both American citizens and those harmed by property violence.

A State Department official remarked that there is pending litigation on this matter, asserting that the US’s actions regarding Khalil were appropriate and legally justified.