Palestinian Columbia Student and Gaza Protest Leader Released by Judge After ICE Arrest During Citizenship Interview
- Victor Nwoko
- Apr 30
- 3 min read
A federal judge in Vermont has ordered the release of Mohsen Mahdawi, a Palestinian student and prominent protest organizer against the war in Gaza, who was arrested by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) during an interview intended to finalize his U.S. citizenship. Mahdawi, a legal permanent resident for 10 years, was taken into custody on April 14 and held at the Northwest State Correctional Facility in St. Albans, Vermont.
U.S. District Judge Geoffrey Crawford ruled on Wednesday that Mahdawi could be released, allowing him to leave Vermont to attend his graduation next month at Columbia University in New York City. Mahdawi recently completed his undergraduate studies at the Ivy League institution and was accepted into a master’s program scheduled to begin in the fall.
Following his release, Mahdawi addressed supporters outside the courthouse, leading chants such as “No fear” and “Free Palestine.” He emphasized the need for unity in defense of democracy and humanity, declaring, “Never give up on the idea that justice will prevail. We want to stand up for humanity, because the rest of the world — not only Palestine — is watching us.”
The U.S. government argued that Mahdawi was removable under the Immigration and Nationality Act, citing a determination by Secretary of State Marco Rubio that Mahdawi’s presence and activism could cause serious adverse foreign policy consequences and compromise a compelling U.S. foreign policy interest. That determination formed the basis of the notice to appear in immigration court.
Mahdawi’s attorneys maintain that his detention was a retaliatory act against his constitutionally protected advocacy for Palestinian human rights. He co-founded the Palestinian Student Union at Columbia University alongside Mahmoud Khalil, another Palestinian permanent resident and graduate student who was also detained by immigration authorities under similar circumstances.
In a court filing, Mahdawi's legal team contended that the detention violated his rights and was politically motivated. Despite the ruling in his favor, the U.S. government retains the right to appeal the decision.
According to the government, the detention was part of a “constitutionally valid aspect of the deportation process,” and district courts have no jurisdiction over when or how removal proceedings are initiated. Acting U.S. Attorney for Vermont, Michael Drescher, stated that Mahdawi’s challenge was essentially an objection to the government’s authority to begin deportation procedures, which the district court could not legally consider.
An immigration judge in Louisiana previously ruled that the government’s claim of potential foreign policy consequences due to Khalil’s presence met the threshold for deportation.
Court documents revealed that Mahdawi was born in a refugee camp in the Israeli-occupied West Bank and came to the United States in 2014. Throughout his time at Columbia University, he became an outspoken critic of Israel’s actions in Gaza and was instrumental in organizing student protests until March 2024.
After his release, Mahdawi spoke directly to President Donald Trump and members of his administration, saying, “I am not afraid of you,” and continued, “If there is no fear, what is it replaced with? Love. Love is our way.”
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