(New York) Propalestinian activist Mahmoud Khalil filed a complaint on Thursday against the Trump administration to claim compensation after 104 days of “political” detention, claiming $ 20 million or public apology from the United States government, he said in a statement.
The leader of the protest movement of Columbia University, in New York, claims $ 20 million in damages, “that he would use to help other people referred to in the same way,” said the Center for Constitutional Rights (CCR), which represents him in court.
But “he would accept, in place of payment, official apology and the abandonment of the unconstitutional policy of the administration,” added the organization.
The student, a graduate in 2024, believes that the “abuses suffered” caused him “a serious emotional distress, economic difficulties, damage to his reputation and a significant damage to his rights”, according to the CCR.
Born in Syria of Palestinian parents, holder of an American resident card, Mahmoud Khalil had been arrested on March 8 at the foot of his university residence by plainclothes agents of the Federal Border Police (ICE). He had been transferred to a detention center for migrants in Louisiana, thousands of kilometers, from where he could not attend the birth of his son. His lawyers have always denounced a “political” and unjustified arrest, which would aim to muzzle any challenge to the war waged by Israel in Gaza.
The Trump administration accuses him, on the contrary, of being a “support for Hamas” and justifies the expulsion procedure by the risk that he would have the American “foreign policy” run.
The student was released by justice on June 21, but his expulsion procedure is still underway.
“Nothing can replace the 104 days stolen from me. The trauma, the separation of with my wife, the birth of my first child that I was forced to miss, “he said in the press release.
Contacted by AFP, the Ministry of Internal Security (DHS) described its accusations as “absurd”.
“The Trump administration has acted perfectly in the context of its statutory and constitutional authority to hold Khalil, as it does with any stranger who advocates violence, glorifies and supports the terrorists, harass the Jews and damages goods,” also replied a spokesperson for DHS, Tricia McLaughlin.
