Mahmoud Khalil, a Palestinian activist and former graduate student at Columbia University, has filed a lawsuit against the university, alleging it failed to address harassment against him and other members of a pro-Palestinian campus group. The lawsuit, filed in a federal court in New York City, claims that Columbia's "deliberate indifference" led to the doxing—publicly sharing private information—of multiple group members and Khalil’s detention by immigration agents. The university has not commented on the lawsuit but emphasized in an email that "creating a campus environment where every member of our community feels welcome, supported, and safe is fundamental to who we are as a University." It also stated its commitment to protecting students from discrimination and harassment, and responding promptly when such concerns arise. Khalil previously sued Columbia last year to block the release of student records to a congressional committee. He became a prominent figure as a spokesperson for student activists protesting Israel's military actions in Gaza. In March 2025, U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents arrested Khalil at his campus apartment, marking him as a key target in the Trump administration's crackdown on pro-Palestinian demonstrators. Khalil was held for 104 days in a Louisiana immigration jail, missing the birth of his first child, before a federal judge in New Jersey ordered his release. His case for deportation is still ongoing. The lawsuit claims that Columbia "refused to correct disinformation" about Khalil while he was detained, allowing a false narrative about his actions and role to persist. This, the lawsuit argues, enabled harassment against other Palestinian students and students perceived to have Arab or Muslim heritage. Instead of investigating reports of harassment, the university allegedly retaliated by labeling events held by the pro-Palestinian group as security risks and altering disciplinary policies to target criticism of the Israeli government. The lawsuit accuses Columbia of civil rights violations and seeks a court order to restore Khalil's access to campus, end the suspension of the Palestinian group, and obtain damages to be determined at trial. The lawsuit also names the pro-Palestinian group and its president, Mohammad Zubairi, as plaintiffs. The case highlights tensions between free speech, campus safety, and the treatment of students involved in politically charged activism. The outcome of the lawsuit could have broader implications for how universities handle issues of harassment, discrimination, and political expression on campus.