(MENAFN) Palestinian advocate Mahmoud Khalil — apprehended in March by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents and kept for more than 100 days despite his status as a lawful permanent resident — has initiated legal action against the Trump administration.

His lawsuit asserts that officials declined to provide documentation of their communications with opaque, pro-Israel groups and individuals. A media outlet reported this development on Thursday.

“For months, shady organizations and individuals carried out a smear and harassment campaign designed to intimidate and silence me,” Khalil told the media outlet.

“The public deserves full accountability for every bad actor who helped make that possible, including those at Columbia (University) who fabricated and amplified these smears and opened the door for state retaliation against Palestinian speech.”

Khalil, who completed his studies at Columbia University and holds lawful permanent residence through marriage to a U.S. citizen, was taken into custody in New York City without a warrant.

He was subsequently transported to a Louisiana detention center, where he remained for an extended period.

He became the earliest among several international students singled out by the Trump administration for voicing criticism of Israel and expressing solidarity with Palestine.

During court hearings in July, it was disclosed that ICE utilized information supplied by Canary Mission and Betar — two pro-Israel, anti-Palestinian, and anti-speech doxxing groups — to produce investigative leads on students, including Khalil.

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