The leader of the Contestation Movement of Columbia University in New York claims $ 20 million in damages, after 104 days of detention, but affirms that it would be satisfied with “public excuses”.
Propalestinian activist Mahmoud Khalil filed a complaint Thursday against the Trump administration to claim compensation after 104 days of detention “policy”claiming $ 20 million or public apology from the US 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 targeted in the same way”said in a press release the Center for Constitutional Rights (CCR), which represents it 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, graduated in 2024, estimates that “Ma ill -treatment” caused him “A serious emotional distress, economic difficulties, damage to its reputation and significant damage to its 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 an arrest “policy” And unjustified, which would aim to muzzle any challenge to the war waged by Israel in Gaza.
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“Hamas support”
The Trump administration accuses him of being a “Hamas support” and justifies the expulsion procedure by the risk that it would have the “Foreign policy” American. 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 from 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) qualified 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 terrorists, harass the Jews and damages property”also replied a spokesperson for the DHS, Tricia McLaughlin.
