Algerian National Sues Columbia University Amid Deportation Proceedings

Mahmoud Khalil, an Algerian citizen facing imminent deportation, has filed a lawsuit against Columbia University and the dean of his master's program. The suit, lodged on Monday, claims the defendants failed to protect Khalil and other participants in demonstrations from discrimination and harassment.

This legal action marks Khalil's latest effort to seek protection within the U.S. legal system, which he has been accused of seeking to undermine through his activism. Khalil has been involved in protests at Columbia University for approximately four years, and he is associated with the group Columbia University Apartheid Divest (CUAD).

This is not the first time Khalil has pursued legal recourse to challenge his situation. In March 2025, he filed a lawsuit against Columbia and several federal lawmakers, aiming to prevent the university from submitting student disciplinary records to Congress. The underlying concern, as presented, was that such records could reveal a failure by universities to adequately address instances of discrimination against Israelis and Jews on campus.

In July 2026, Khalil initiated another lawsuit, naming multiple government officials, think tanks, and nonprofit organizations. He alleged a conspiracy to facilitate his deportation.

Khalil's legal strategies have drawn criticism for utilizing the American legal framework, including the First Amendment, to defend actions such as property destruction and defiance of law enforcement, while advocating for the dismantling of Western systems. The source suggests that Khalil and his associates are employing legal means cynically, framing themselves as champions of free speech and civil rights, while engaging in behavior characterized as intimidation and law-breaking.

The organization CUAD, which comprises 94 Columbia student groups, has reportedly maintained a website that honors individuals and groups deemed anti-American and terrorist organizations. The author of the opinion piece argues that these groups do not represent patriotic dissent but rather seek to undermine American institutions.

Khalil is reportedly facing deportation proceedings, with a previous ruling in September 2025 by an immigration judge ordering his removal from the U.S. due to alleged green card fraud. The potential destinations mentioned were Algeria or Syria.