Lawyers: Columbia Student Mahmoud Khalil Felt Like He Was Abducted During Hasty Detention

NEW YORK — Mahmoud Khalil, a Columbia University graduate student, felt as though he was kidnapped when he was swiftly transported from New York to Louisiana in handcuffs and shackles, according to his lawyers. They are seeking his immediate release in an updated lawsuit.

The legal team detailed the experiences of the Palestinian activist, stating he was flown to Louisiana by unidentified agents. Upon arrival, he was allegedly left to sleep in a bunker without basic necessities, while U.S. officials reportedly celebrated the deportation effort of a man his lawyers claim was a prominent figure in student protests against Israel’s military actions in Gaza.

The filing in Manhattan federal court on Thursday was prompted by a judge’s order on Wednesday, which mandated that Khalil be allowed to communicate with his legal representatives.

Khalil’s lawyers asserted that his treatment by federal authorities, from his arrest on Saturday to the following Monday, evoked memories of his departure from Syria after friends disappeared during a period of arbitrary detention in 2013.

“Throughout this process, Mr. Khalil felt as though he was being kidnapped,” his lawyers stated regarding his treatment.

Earlier in the week, President Donald Trump praised Khalil’s arrest, promising more to come, and declared on social media his intention to deport students involved in what he described as “pro-terrorist, anti-Semitic, anti-American activity.”

Justice Department lawyers stated in court documents that Khalil’s detention was based on a law that permits Secretary of State Marco Rubio to remove individuals from the country if their presence or activities are believed to have potentially serious adverse foreign policy consequences.

Trump and Rubio have been added as defendants in the civil suit aiming to secure Khalil’s freedom.

Government attorneys have requested that the judge dismiss the lawsuit or move it to New Jersey or Louisiana, arguing that the jurisdiction lies where Khalil has been held since his arrest.

The lawsuit claims that Khalil repeatedly requested to speak with a lawyer after being apprehended by federal agents as he and his wife returned to their Columbia University residence after dinner. He is a U.S. permanent resident with no criminal record.

According to the lawsuit, Khalil briefly spoke with his lawyer after being approached by Department of Homeland Security agents, before being taken to FBI headquarters in lower Manhattan.

His lawyers wrote that Khalil overheard one agent telling another that “the White House is requesting an update.”

The lawsuit states that early Sunday, Khalil was transported, handcuffed and shackled, to the Elizabeth Detention Center in Elizabeth, New Jersey, a privately-operated facility. There, he spent the night in a cold waiting room awaiting processing and was denied a blanket.

When he reached the front of the line, he was informed that his processing would be delayed due to his impending transfer by immigration authorities, the lawsuit continues.

The lawsuit further claims that, while in a van, Khalil observed an agent receiving a text message instructing that Khalil was not to use his phone.

He was placed on an American Airlines flight from Kennedy International Airport to Dallas at 2:45 p.m. on Sunday, followed by a connecting flight to Alexandria, Louisiana. Arriving at 1 a.m. on Monday, he was transported by police car to the Louisiana Detention Facility in Jena, Louisiana, according to the legal document.

The lawsuit indicates that, while at the facility, Khalil is concerned about his pregnant wife and the possibility of missing the birth of his first child.

The couple was relying on a job and health benefits Khalil was scheduled to begin in April to cover expenses related to the birth and care of their child, the lawsuit states.

“It is very important to Mr. Khalil to be able to continue his protected political speech, advocating and protesting for the rights of Palestinians—both domestically and abroad,” the lawsuit reads. It also notes Khalil’s planned participation on a panel at the upcoming premiere of a documentary featuring him in Copenhagen, Denmark.

At a hearing on Wednesday, Khalil’s attorneys reported that they had been denied attorney-client communications with Khalil since his arrest, and were informed that they could speak with him in 10 days. Judge Jesse M. Furman ordered that at least one conversation be allowed on Wednesday and Thursday.

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