Immigration agents detained Palestinian student Mohsen Mahdawi at a US Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) office in Vermont on Monday, just as he arrived for his citizenship interview. Mahdawi, a Columbia University student and activist, was arrested after a decade-long stay in the US, where he had obtained a green card.
He had been a vocal leader in the anti-Israel protests on Columbia’s campus, which likely drew the attention of the Trump administration's immigration enforcement efforts.
In a video shared on social media, Mahdawi, hands shackled, is seen being escorted by federal agents to an unmarked vehicle. His attorney, Luna Droubi, called the arrest unlawful, stating, "He came to this country hoping to be free to speak out about the atrocities he has witnessed, only to be punished for such speech."
Mahdawi, who led the Palestinian student union at Columbia, has been a target of criticism and scrutiny due to his pro-Palestinian activism. He told The Intercept, “It’s kind of a death sentence... because my people are being killed unjustly in an indiscriminate way.” He explained that his past activism, especially his role in protesting Israel’s actions in Gaza, had made him a target of immigration enforcement.
Mahdawi had been hiding after his friend and fellow protester Mahmoud Khalil was detained by immigration authorities, fearing his own arrest. The USCIS had moved his citizenship interview from December to this week, which raised suspicions that the meeting was part of a setup. Mahdawi’s fears were realized when he was arrested as he attended the interview.
His attorney filed a habeas corpus petition on his behalf, arguing that the government’s actions violated his due process rights. A federal judge has since issued a temporary restraining order, preventing Mahdawi from being moved out of Vermont while his case is pending.
Mahdawi has expressed that he believes his deportation to the West Bank, where violence and unrest are escalating, would effectively be a "death sentence." His family in the region has faced ongoing hardship, including the loss of relatives in conflict and the destruction of their homes.
As Mahdawi faces deportation, he joins a growing list of students and activists who have been targeted by the Trump administration’s immigration policies, particularly those with pro-Palestinian views. This marks another controversial chapter in the US government's crackdown on immigrants involved in political activism.
He had been a vocal leader in the anti-Israel protests on Columbia’s campus, which likely drew the attention of the Trump administration's immigration enforcement efforts.
In a video shared on social media, Mahdawi, hands shackled, is seen being escorted by federal agents to an unmarked vehicle. His attorney, Luna Droubi, called the arrest unlawful, stating, "He came to this country hoping to be free to speak out about the atrocities he has witnessed, only to be punished for such speech."
EXCLUSIVE FOOTAGE: Columbia student and Palestinian Mohsen Madawi was just arrested during a visit to the immigration office here in Colchester, VT. More to follow. Footage by: Christopher Helali pic.twitter.com/I9JvPS2DLn
— Christopher Helali (@ChrisHelali) April 14, 2025
Mahdawi, who led the Palestinian student union at Columbia, has been a target of criticism and scrutiny due to his pro-Palestinian activism. He told The Intercept, “It’s kind of a death sentence... because my people are being killed unjustly in an indiscriminate way.” He explained that his past activism, especially his role in protesting Israel’s actions in Gaza, had made him a target of immigration enforcement.
Mahdawi had been hiding after his friend and fellow protester Mahmoud Khalil was detained by immigration authorities, fearing his own arrest. The USCIS had moved his citizenship interview from December to this week, which raised suspicions that the meeting was part of a setup. Mahdawi’s fears were realized when he was arrested as he attended the interview.
His attorney filed a habeas corpus petition on his behalf, arguing that the government’s actions violated his due process rights. A federal judge has since issued a temporary restraining order, preventing Mahdawi from being moved out of Vermont while his case is pending.
Mahdawi has expressed that he believes his deportation to the West Bank, where violence and unrest are escalating, would effectively be a "death sentence." His family in the region has faced ongoing hardship, including the loss of relatives in conflict and the destruction of their homes.
As Mahdawi faces deportation, he joins a growing list of students and activists who have been targeted by the Trump administration’s immigration policies, particularly those with pro-Palestinian views. This marks another controversial chapter in the US government's crackdown on immigrants involved in political activism.
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