NEW YORK (AP) — On a recent afternoon, Mahmoud Khalil sat in his Manhattan apartment, cradling his 10-week-old son as he thought back to the pre-dawn hours spent pacing a frigid immigration jail in Louisiana, awaiting news of the child’s birth in New York.

For a moment, the outspoken Palestinian activist found himself uncharacteristically speechless.

“I cannot describe the pain of that night,” Khalil said finally, gazing down as the baby, Deen, cooed in his arms. “This is something I will never forgive.”

  • spongebue@lemmy.world
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    23 hours ago

    Khalil said he plans to share any settlement money with others targeted in Trump’s “failed” effort to suppress pro-Palestinian speech. In lieu of a settlement, he would also accept an official apology and changes to the administration’s deportation policies.

    Keep that in mind for those who inevitably try to denigrate him over this

    • Death_Equity@lemmy.world
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      23 hours ago

      I don’t believe a word about him sharing the money with anybody until he does it.

      Obviously Trump will fight this, so an apology won’t happen and no chance deporting policy will change willingly.

      My question is if he will be able to afford the lawsuit for as long as it will be drawn out. It is a pretty risky gamble that he will be able to win and get the lawyers paid off the money awarded. There will be lawyers that will take it pro-bono or on contingency, but are they good enough to win against the government?

      • Maeve@kbin.earth
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        23 hours ago

        This kind of pro bono work could skyrocket a young, talented, obscure lawyer’s career!

        • Death_Equity@lemmy.world
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          19 hours ago

          That is the last type of lawyer you want for this case. You want a firm filled with experienced jaded amoral sociopaths that just want to get the win.

      • brian@lemmy.ca
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        23 hours ago

        Just because I’m curious, is the fact that this is a “risky gamble” concerning to you? Or that a lawsuit such as this is expected to be drawn out, likely putting a large deterrent on less affluent victims from seeking justice?

        • Death_Equity@lemmy.world
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          19 hours ago

          Both. If he loses, it can set precedent that would negatively impact others who wish to seek similar lawsuits, even if they have a stronger case.

          Anyone wanting to go to court with the administration over deportation issues should expect it to be a drawn out and costly affair that has a considerable chance of failure. They want to set an example to discourage similar suits.

          They way to actually win would be a class action and to settle in for years of judicial process, but you would have to have deep pockets funding that.