Columbia Students Sue to Block Release of Protest Records as Activist Faces Deportation

Mahmoud Khalil and others allege First Amendment violations in lawsuit against Columbia University and a Republican-led House committee seeking student disciplinary records.

Mahmoud Khalil, a Columbia graduate student and U.S. permanent resident, is suing to prevent the release of student records tied to pro-Palestine protests on campus.
Khalil, currently detained and facing deportation, has not been charged with any crimes but is accused by federal officials of posing a national security threat due to his activism.
The lawsuit argues that the House committee's request for records infringes on students' First Amendment rights and exposes them to harassment and safety risks.
Columbia University announced disciplinary actions, including expulsions and degree revocations, for students involved in a campus building occupation last fall.
The Trump administration has already cut $400 million in federal funding from Columbia, with critics framing the actions as attempts to suppress protected speech.