Palestinian Student Activist Arrested During Citizenship Appointment in Vermont
- Victor Nwoko
- Apr 14
- 3 min read
A Palestinian student who led protests against the war in Gaza while studying at Columbia University was arrested Monday at a Vermont immigration office during what was expected to be a routine interview to finalize his U.S. citizenship, according to his attorneys.
Mohsen Mahdawi, a legal permanent resident who has held a green card since 2015, was detained by Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents at the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services office in Colchester. His lawyers say they do not know his current whereabouts and have filed a petition in federal court seeking an emergency order to prevent the government from removing him from Vermont or the country.
According to the court filing, Mahdawi was born in a refugee camp in the West Bank and came to the United States in 2014. He recently completed coursework at Columbia University and was on track to graduate in May before beginning a master’s degree program in the fall. The petition also describes Mahdawi as a practicing Buddhist who embraces non-violence and empathy as core religious principles.
As a student, Mahdawi became a vocal critic of Israel’s military actions in Gaza and helped organize campus demonstrations until March 2024. He co-founded the Palestinian Student Union at Columbia alongside Mahmoud Khalil, another Palestinian legal permanent resident and graduate student who was recently detained by ICE. Khalil was the first individual arrested as part of President Donald Trump’s intensified crackdown on students involved in Gaza-related protests. Last week, an immigration judge in Louisiana ruled that Khalil could be deported on national security grounds.
Attorney Luna Droubi, who represents Mahdawi, said his detention is a politically motivated act targeting him for his Palestinian identity and activism. “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,” she said.
Christopher Helali, a friend of Mahdawi who was outside the immigration office at the time of the arrest, recorded video footage showing Mahdawi flashing a peace sign as he was led to a vehicle by authorities. Helali said Mahdawi had been aware of the risk of arrest but chose to attend the appointment because he believed he had done nothing wrong. “And rightfully so, he was nervous for what was going on around him. But he was very much resolute in coming to this interview and coming today because he didn’t do anything wrong and was a law-abiding citizen, or soon-to-be citizen,” Helali said.
Members of Vermont’s congressional delegation condemned the arrest in a joint statement, calling the incident an affront to due process and human dignity. “This is immoral, inhumane, and illegal. Mr. Mahdawi, a legal resident of the United States, must be afforded due process under the law and immediately released from detention,” the statement read. It was signed by Senator Bernie Sanders, Senator Peter Welch, and Representative Becca Balint.
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