Mahmoud Khalil alleges conspiracy in lawsuit against Trump officials

Pro-Palestine advocate Mahmoud Khalil has filed a lawsuit in Manhattan federal court against Trump administration officials and three private groups, alleging a conspiracy to target and deport him. The lawsuit claims the Heritage Foundation developed "Project Esther" to dismantle the pro-Palestine movement by targeting non-citizens and conflating advocacy with anti-Jewish sentiment. Groups like Betar and Canary Mission allegedly identified targets, with White House adviser Stephen Miller cited for his prior work with the Heritage Foundation. Khalil, a green card holder and former student activist, was arrested in March 2025 and detained for 104 days. His legal team seeks damages and to halt deportation proceedings, arguing the government unlawfully used its power to target him. The White House maintains Khalil misrepresented himself on his immigration application.

Mahmoud Khalil, a former Columbia University graduate student and permanent US resident, has filed a lawsuit against Trump administration officials and pro-Israel groups. The lawsuit, filed in Manhattan federal court, alleges a conspiracy to target individuals, including Khalil, for their support of Palestinian rights. Khalil claims the Trump administration collaborated with online surveillance groups Betar and Canary Mission, and the Heritage Foundation, to identify and punish pro-Palestinian activists. The suit, brought under the Ku Klux Klan Act of 1871, asserts that this public-private partnership aimed to criminalize solidarity with Palestine and intimidate dissent. Khalil was previously detained for 104 days and is currently fighting deportation efforts by the government, which alleges he misrepresented information on his visa application.