Judge Frees Palestinian Columbia Student Detained During U.S. Citizenship Interview

A federal judge has released Mohsen Mahdawi, a Palestinian graduate student at Columbia University, who was arrested by U.S. immigration officials during his citizenship interview earlier this month.

Mahdawi, a longtime U.S. green card holder and vocal critic of the war in Gaza, was detained on April 14 by Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) officers in Vermont. The U.S. government argued his activism posed “serious adverse foreign policy consequences,” referencing a notice signed by Secretary of State Marco Rubio.

Standing outside the courthouse after his release, Mahdawi led supporters in chants of “No fear” and “Free Palestine,” declaring, “Never give up on the idea that justice will prevail… The rest of the world is watching what happens in America.”

Mahdawi, who co-founded the Palestinian Student Union at Columbia with fellow detained student Mahmoud Khalil, has been a prominent figure in campus protests. His attorneys maintain that his arrest was retaliation for his political speech and advocacy.

U.S. District Judge Geoffrey Crawford ruled in favor of Mahdawi’s release, allowing him to travel outside Vermont and attend his Columbia graduation next month. The government, however, retains the right to appeal the decision.

Mahdawi, who completed his undergraduate coursework and planned to begin a master’s program this fall, was held at the Northwest State Correctional Facility prior to his release.

The U.S. government has insisted that his detention is lawful under immigration statutes, with officials asserting that district courts lack jurisdiction over such deportation proceedings.

Meanwhile, immigration authorities have also cited similar foreign policy grounds in the ongoing case against Mahmoud Khalil, ruling his presence in the U.S. could pose diplomatic challenges.

Born in a West Bank refugee camp, Mahdawi moved to the U.S. in 2014 and has since become an outspoken voice for Palestinian rights. Addressing President Trump and his administration directly after his release, he said, “I am not afraid of you. If there is no fear, what is it replaced with? Love. Love is our way.”

Supporters and human rights groups continue to call for the protection of free speech and civil liberties for international students and activists across the U.S.

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