# Columbia University pro-Palestinian activist legal disputes > Live situation record from CLSTR: https://clstr.news/situations/columbia-university-pro-palestinian-activist-legal-disputes > Updated: 2026-09-14T17:17:34.000Z. Sources: 17. Developments: 2. At Columbia University, pro-Palestinian activists have faced legal and immigration challenges following campus protests in 2024. In early September 2026, the university’s Knight First Amendment Institute announced a symposium to mark the 25th anniversary of the ‘War on Terror,’ featuring Mohsen Mahdawi. Mahdawi, a graduate student and protest leader, is currently facing deportation proceedings after federal authorities alleged he supported terrorist organizations and participated in violent protests. Following these developments, Mahmoud Khalil, a former graduate student and figure in the 2024 protest movement, filed a civil rights lawsuit against Columbia University and Dean Keren Yarhi-Milo. Khalil alleges the university showed ‘deliberate indifference’ toward harassment and discrimination against pro-Palestinian students. The lawsuit claims the university’s failure to address threats and doxxing contributed to Khalil’s 104-day detention by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) in 2025. ## Claims - Mahmoud Khalil filed a civil rights lawsuit against Columbia University and Dean Keren Yarhi-Milo. (disputed by 15 sources) - The lawsuit alleges Columbia University exhibited 'deliberate indifference' toward the harassment of pro-Palestinian students. (corroborated by 15 sources) - The lawsuit claims Columbia's actions contributed to Khalil's 104-day detention by federal immigration authorities. (corroborated by 15 sources) - Columbia University declined to comment on the lawsuit but issued a statement regarding its commitment to a safe and inclusive campus. (corroborated by 15 sources) ## Timeline ### 2026-09-14: Mahmoud Khalil sues Columbia University over alleged student harassment Palestinian activist Mahmoud Khalil is suing Columbia University and a dean, alleging 'deliberate indifference' to student harassment and discrimination that contributed to his 2025 immigration detention. 15 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/columbia-university-faces-lawsuit-and-scrutiny-over-funding ### 2026-09-04: Columbia University to host activist facing deportation at 9/11 symposium Columbia University’s Knight First Amendment Institute will host activist Mohsen Mahdawi at a September 10 symposium, despite his ongoing legal battle regarding deportation and alleged support for terrorism. 2 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/columbia-university-to-host-activist-facing-deportation-at-911-symposium --- Cite as: Columbia University pro-Palestinian activist legal disputes. CLSTR, https://clstr.news/situations/columbia-university-pro-palestinian-activist-legal-disputes