Pakistan, July 11 -- Mahmoud Khalil, a Columbia University student and pro-Palestinian activist, has filed a $20 million claim against the Trump administration. He alleges false imprisonment and malicious prosecution during his detention by US immigration authorities.

Khalil's lawyers submitted the claim against the Departments of Homeland Security and State on Thursday. The law requires that such claims be made directly to the government before a lawsuit can be filed. Officials now have six months to respond.

A spokesperson for the Department of Homeland Security called the claim "absurd," insisting that the Trump administration acted within its legal authority. Khalil was arrested in March and detained for over 100 days.

The governme...