Palestinian Activist Freed After Citizenship Interview Arrest/ Newslooks/ WASHINGTON/ J. Mansour/ Morning Edition/ A federal judge has ordered the release of Mohsen Mahdawi, a Palestinian student activist arrested by immigration agents during his U.S. citizenship interview. Mahdawi, a Columbia University graduate student, had organized protests against the war in Gaza. His lawyers argue the arrest was politically motivated and a violation of his free speech rights.
Palestinian Student Detention: Quick Looks
- Judge Geoffrey Crawford ordered Mahdawi’s release from Vermont custody
- Arrest occurred during his naturalization interview on April 14
- Mahdawi is a 10-year U.S. permanent resident and Columbia student
- He co-founded the Palestinian Student Union at Columbia University
- ICE claims his presence poses “serious foreign policy consequences”
- His detention drew scrutiny amid heightened pro-Palestinian activism
- Government cites INA clause tied to national security concerns
- Mahdawi was born in a refugee camp in the West Bank
- Another Columbia student, Mahmoud Khalil, also detained by ICE
- Judge previously barred Mahdawi’s removal from state or country
Palestinian Activist Freed After Citizenship Interview Arrest
Deep Look
Palestinian Columbia Student Released After ICE Arrest at Citizenship Interview
BURLINGTON, Vt. — A federal judge on Wednesday ordered the release of Mohsen Mahdawi, a Palestinian graduate student at Columbia University who was detained earlier this month by immigration authorities during his naturalization interview.
Mahdawi, a U.S. legal permanent resident for a decade, was arrested by Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents on April 14 during a routine interview to finalize his American citizenship. He had been held at Northwest State Correctional Facility in St. Albans, Vermont, until U.S. District Judge Geoffrey Crawford ruled for his release.
The case has stirred national attention as it comes amid a broader debate about the treatment of pro-Palestinian activists on U.S. campuses and in immigration enforcement.
Political Speech or National Threat?
Attorneys for Mahdawi say the arrest was a targeted act of retaliation for his outspoken criticism of Israel’s war in Gaza and his activism in support of Palestinian human rights. Mahdawi was a well-known organizer at Columbia University, where he co-founded the Palestinian Student Union and regularly led peaceful protests until March 2024.
In court filings, ICE justified the detention by citing a determination from Secretary of State Marco Rubio that Mahdawi’s “presence and activities” could have “serious adverse foreign policy consequences” and “compromise a compelling U.S. foreign policy interest.”
This clause in the Immigration and Nationality Act has rarely been invoked in similar cases, and civil rights advocates argue its application here appears politically motivated.
“The government is attempting to silence dissent by using the immigration system against those who speak out,” Mahdawi’s legal team stated in court documents.
Federal Pushback
Vermont’s acting U.S. Attorney Michael Drescher defended the government’s actions, arguing that Mahdawi’s detention is legally permissible under immigration law and that federal district courts have no jurisdiction to intervene in the removal process.
“District courts play no role in that process,” Drescher wrote. “This Court lacks jurisdiction over Petitioner’s claims.”
However, Judge Crawford disagreed, noting the exceptional nature of Mahdawi’s case and temporarily blocking the government from removing him from Vermont or the U.S. altogether while the case proceeds.
A Broader Pattern?
Mahdawi’s arrest isn’t isolated. His Columbia classmate and co-founder of the student group, Mahmoud Khalil, was also recently detained by immigration authorities under a nearly identical justification.
In Khalil’s case, an immigration judge in Louisiana ruled that the U.S. government had met the burden of proof to justify deportation, citing similar concerns about foreign policy implications.
The detentions have alarmed immigrant rights advocates, who warn that the U.S. is increasingly using immigration enforcement as a tool to suppress protected political speech — particularly when it challenges American allies like Israel.
What’s Next for Mahdawi?
Mahdawi, who was born in a refugee camp in the Israeli-occupied West Bank, immigrated to the U.S. in 2014 and has since built a life in academia. He recently completed his coursework at Columbia and was expected to graduate this spring, with plans to begin a master’s program at the university in the fall.
It remains unclear whether the government will continue to pursue deportation proceedings against him, but Judge Crawford’s ruling ensures Mahdawi will be free as the legal battle unfolds.
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