Columbia University student and Palestinian Arab activist arrested by ICE agents during a routine citizenship appointment in Vermont. Advocates claim his detention is politically motivated.
A Palestinian Arab student who led anti-war demonstrations at Columbia University was detained Monday by US immigration authorities in Vermont, The Associated Press reported, citing his legal representatives.
Mohsen Mahdawi, a legal US resident since 2015, arrived at a US Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) office in Colchester, Vermont, expecting a routine interview as part of his naturalization process. Instead, he was taken into custody by Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), his lawyers reported.
The location of Mahdawi’s detention remains unknown, prompting his legal team to file an emergency petition in federal court to prevent any transfer or deportation.
“The Trump administration detained Mohsen Mahdawi in direct retaliation for his advocacy on behalf of Palestinians and because of his identity as a Palestinian. His detention is an attempt to silence those who speak out against the atrocities in Gaza. It is also unconstitutional,” said attorney Luna Droubi.
According to the filing, Mahdawi immigrated to the United States in 2014. After completing his studies at Columbia University, he had planned to graduate in May and pursue a master’s degree in the fall.
The court documents also identify Mahdawi as a practicing Buddhist who adheres to principles of non-violence and compassion. During his time at Columbia, he became a prominent voice opposing Israel’s military campaign in Gaza and played a key role in organizing campus demonstrations until March of this year.
He also co-founded the Palestinian Student Union alongside fellow Palestinian permanent resident Mahmoud Khalil, who was previously arrested by ICE.
This past Friday, an immigration judge in Louisiana issued a ruling allowing the deportation of Khalil. The government accuses Khalil of failing to disclose on his residency application what it described as his “membership” in the United Nations’ Palestinian refugee agency, UNRWA.
In a recent letter written from detention, Khalil rejected the allegations and framed his detention as retaliation for his political views. “This is a direct consequence of exercising my right to free speech as I advocated for a free Palestine and an end to the genocide in Gaza,” he wrote.
