Columbia University agitator Mahmoud Khalil has filed a lawsuit claiming a conspiracy against him and other pro-Palestinian advocates, an effort that comes as he faces a final deportation order. The suit, filed last week, names "several avowedly anti-Palestinian private actors and high-level federal government officials" as defendants, alleging they are "jointly carrying out a conspiracy" against individuals accused of supporting terrorism.
Among the named defendants are Canary Mission, a group focused on combating antisemitism; Betar, a Zionist organization; and the Heritage Foundation. These groups are involved in Project Esther, which aims to inform the public about what it describes as antisemitic rhetoric and support for violence within some pro-Palestinian advocacy. Khalil's lawsuit contends that these actions are intended to target such advocates for punishment by federal officials after they have been publicly identified and labeled as antisemitic or supportive of terrorism.
Khalil has been in the United States since 2022 on a student visa. Following the Oct. 7, 2023, events, he became a vocal figure in protests at Columbia University, frequently appearing in media to discuss the conflict. The State Department initiated proceedings to remove him in 2023, citing immigration fraud in his application to change his visa status. Specifically, the department alleged he failed to disclose volunteer work for the UN Relief and Works Agency (UNRWA), which has faced accusations of Hamas ties, and his association with Columbia University Apartheid Divest, an organization that has expressed anti-American viewpoints.
Khalil received a final deportation order in April. The Third Circuit Court of Appeals declined in May to hear arguments for his release pending the resolution of his litigation but granted a stay while the Supreme Court reviews its decision. Despite these proceedings, Khalil has not been detained by Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE).