Columbia University sued for allegedly failing to protect pro-Palestinian students

Pro-Palestinian student activists have filed a lawsuit against Columbia University, alleging the institution failed to protect them from harassment for years. Mahmoud Khalil, a key plaintiff, became a symbol of the crackdown on pro-Palestinian protests under former U.S. President Donald Trump's administration after his arrest in March 2025.

Despite being a legal permanent resident, Khalil was detained by U.S. immigration officials without any criminal charges. The lawsuit, filed by Khalil and the group Action for Palestine, claims Columbia University violated federal civil rights law by not safeguarding students from threats, doxxing, and harassment based on their perceived Arab or Muslim background or support for Palestinian rights.

The war in Gaza has sparked heated debates on university campuses, including at Columbia, where the main pedestrian thoroughfare has been closed for nearly three years. Khalil's lawsuit alleges that the university displayed anti-Palestinian bias throughout its departments and was backed by its board of trustees. According to the lawsuit, Columbia treated pro-Palestinian protests as security risks and altered policies so that any criticism of Israeli actions could lead to disciplinary action.

Columbia University declined to comment on the lawsuit, stating that creating a welcoming, supportive, and safe campus environment is central to its identity. A federal appeals court in Philadelphia ruled that Khalil's release from detention last year was not within the jurisdiction of the district judge who ordered it.