Activist Freed from Jail Graduates at Columbia \ Newslooks \ Washington DC \ Mary Sidiqi \ Evening Edition \ Just weeks after being detained by immigration authorities, Palestinian activist Mohsen Mahdawi walked the graduation stage at Columbia University in defiance of a crackdown on pro-Palestinian students. Draped in a keffiyeh, Mahdawi celebrated the milestone while demanding justice for a classmate still in federal custody. The Trump administration had pushed for his deportation.
Quick Looks
- Mahdawi Released, Then Graduates: Freed from ICE custody just weeks ago, Mahdawi walked the Columbia stage.
- Detained During Citizenship Interview: He was arrested April 14 in Vermont, without any criminal charges filed.
- Cheered by Classmates: His appearance drew loud support during the ceremony.
- Columbia Criticized: Mahdawi says university leadership failed to protect him and his classmate, Mahmoud Khalil.
- Khalil Still Detained: Khalil, a master’s student, remains jailed in Louisiana awaiting a federal ruling.
- Judge Condemned Arrest: The immigration judge compared the detention to McCarthy-era repression.
- No Federal Charges Filed: Officials sought deportation for political beliefs, not criminal actions.
- Future Uncertain: Mahdawi’s acceptance to a Columbia master’s program is in limbo due to funding loss.
Deep Look
On a warm Monday morning in New York City, Mohsen Mahdawi, a Palestinian-born U.S. legal resident, stepped onto the graduation stage at Columbia University, cheered by classmates who had followed his turbulent journey. Just 19 days earlier, Mahdawi had been released from an immigration detention facility, held not for any crime, but for political beliefs and activism the Trump administration deemed controversial.
With a keffiyeh draped over his graduation gown, Mahdawi paused to acknowledge the crowd’s applause. He raised a photo of his friend and co-founder of the Palestinian Student Union, Mahmoud Khalil, who remains in federal custody. For Mahdawi, the moment marked not just the completion of a degree in philosophy, but a powerful symbol of resistance against what he calls political persecution and institutional silence.
“The Trump administration wanted to rob me of this opportunity,” he said in an interview with the Associated Press. “They wanted me in prison clothes, to take away my right to education, my right to joy, and to celebration.”
Arrest Without Charges: A Chilling Message to Student Activists
On April 14, Mahdawi was detained during what was supposed to be a routine citizenship interview in Vermont. He was not accused of any criminal offense. Instead, federal immigration authorities—acting under a broader crackdown on pro-Palestinian activism—argued that Mahdawi’s political activities and affiliations warranted deportation.
In a legal hearing that followed, the presiding judge compared the government’s actions to McCarthyism, the Cold War-era campaign that targeted Americans over suspected communist sympathies. Mahdawi’s attorneys and civil rights groups say the case underscores a dangerous precedent: using immigration policy to suppress political dissent.
While Mahdawi was released after two weeks, his friend and fellow activist, Mahmoud Khalil, remains jailed in Louisiana. Khalil, a master’s student in international studies, was scheduled to receive his diploma this week. His detention continues to draw criticism from legal observers and human rights organizations.
Columbia’s Silence: A University Under Fire
As Mahdawi emerged from detention, he was not met with open arms by Columbia’s senior leadership. Instead, he says, the university ignored pleas for help, both before and after his arrest.
“The senior administration has sold the soul of this university,” he said, “by cooperating with the Trump administration and abandoning its students.”
Mahdawi accuses Columbia of taking administrative steps to appease federal pressure, such as reorganizing its Middle Eastern studies department, and failing to publicly oppose the arrests of its students. He also claims Columbia refused to provide a letter of support that could have bolstered his legal case for release.
Despite this, Mahdawi received a raucous welcome from fellow students on graduation day—evidence, he says, that the university’s community supports him, even if its leadership does not.
A Journey from Refugee Camp to Ivy League
Born in a refugee camp in the Israeli-occupied West Bank, Mahdawi immigrated to the United States in 2014. His academic achievements at Columbia include leading the university’s Buddhist student association, organizing protests for Palestinian rights, and co-founding a student group focused on Middle East justice.
His activism made him a visible presence on campus—and, he believes, a target for federal authorities under a Trump-era policy approach that seeks to label pro-Palestinian advocacy as a threat to U.S. foreign policy.
Mahdawi’s experience reflects broader tensions in the U.S., where student activists, particularly those advocating for Palestinian rights, are increasingly facing institutional and legal scrutiny.
Legal Uncertainty and Academic Hopes on Hold
While Mahdawi has completed his undergraduate degree, his future remains clouded. He was previously accepted into Columbia’s graduate program in peacekeeping and conflict resolution for fall 2025 but said this month he would no longer receive financial aid, casting doubt on his ability to attend.
“I’m rethinking everything,” he said. “I want to keep studying, but I also need to be free to speak, organize, and advocate for justice.”
He plans to continue advocating for the Palestinian cause, joining legal efforts to secure Khalil’s release and supporting student-led movements nationwide. His experience, he says, has only strengthened his commitment to activism.
“When I walked across that stage, I wasn’t walking for myself. I was walking for Mahmoud, for every refugee who dreams of education, and for everyone who has been silenced.”
Academic Spaces Under Political Pressure
Mahdawi’s ordeal highlights a broader pattern playing out on U.S. campuses. In recent months, universities have faced mounting pressure from both state and federal officials to curb what they see as anti-Israel speech or radical activism. Critics, however, say these efforts are part of a campaign to intimidate marginalized voices, especially those critical of U.S. foreign policy in the Middle East.
Columbia is not alone. Earlier this month, New York University (NYU) drew backlash after officials withheld a diploma from a student speaker who criticized Israeli military actions during his commencement speech. These incidents raise fresh questions about the limits of free speech in academic institutions, especially when activism intersects with immigration status, race, and global politics.
The Fight Isn’t Over
With Khalil still behind bars and the legal system slow to act, Mahdawi says the battle for justice extends far beyond his graduation. He remains focused on keeping attention on student detentions, urging universities to take stronger stances on behalf of their international students and activists.
“They can detain us, silence us, deny us funding—but they can’t stop the truth,” he said. “And the truth is, there are thousands of students fighting for a better world. They won’t stop. I won’t stop.”
For now, Mahdawi is holding onto the moment—walking across a stage in defiance of the forces that tried to stop him, cheered on by peers who saw not just a graduate, but a symbol of resistance.
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