Columbia Activist Detained During Citizenship Visit—Judge Halts Immediate Deportation

Columbia Activist Detained During Citizenship Visit—Judge Halts Immediate Deportation

DECK
Palestinian student organizer arrested by immigration officers amid free speech concerns; federal judge intervenes to block removal from U.S.

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KEY FACTS

• Who: Mohsen Mahdawi, Columbia University protest leader and U.S. green card holder

• What: Detained by immigration authorities during a scheduled citizenship interview

• Where: Vermont, United States

• When: Arrested Monday; federal judge issued restraining order the same day

• Why: Alleged political targeting; no criminal charges filed

• How: Department of Homeland Security agents carried out the arrest; legal team responded with emergency court filing

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SITUATION SNAPSHOT
What was supposed to be a routine step toward U.S. citizenship turned into a legal and political firestorm Monday, as federal agents detained a Palestinian student activist at his immigration appointment. By evening, a federal judge stepped in to halt his deportation amid mounting concerns over civil rights and political retaliation.

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WHAT WE KNOW 
Mohsen Mahdawi, a lawful permanent resident from Palestine and a Columbia University student, was taken into custody by immigration officials on Monday. According to his legal team, Mahdawi had attended what he believed to be a standard citizenship interview when he was arrested without warning.

Court filings indicate he faces no criminal charges. His attorneys quickly filed for a temporary restraining order, which U.S. District Judge William Sessions granted—blocking both his transfer out of Vermont and his deportation.

Government agencies, including the Department of Homeland Security and U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services, have not issued any public response to inquiries about the case.

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WHAT’S NEXT 
The court order prevents any immediate move to deport Mahdawi, but legal proceedings are expected to continue in the coming days. His legal team is seeking a full release, arguing his rights under the First Amendment and due process were violated.

Observers expect the case to become a flashpoint in broader debates about immigration enforcement and political dissent on university campuses. A hearing may be scheduled to further examine the legality of the detention and the government’s motives.

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VOICES ON THE GROUND 
"Mahdawi was an outspoken critic of Israel's military campaign in Gaza and an activist and organizer in student protests on Columbia's campus until March of 2024, after which he took a step back and has not been involved in organizing," his attorneys wrote in their legal petition.

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CONTEXT 
Mahdawi’s detention mirrors that of Mahmoud Khalil, another Columbia affiliate and lawful U.S. resident, who was recently ordered deported by a judge under a similar provision. That ruling has been seen as a significant legal win for the Trump administration, which has escalated efforts to test the limits of speech protections for immigrants.

Mahdawi, who was born and raised in a West Bank refugee camp, has lived legally in the U.S. for a decade. According to filings, he is set to graduate from Columbia University in May and has been accepted into a master’s program at the same institution.

The case is rapidly becoming a litmus test for how far federal authorities can go in using immigration laws against non-citizens engaged in political activism—particularly on college campuses.

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REPORTER INSIGHT
From the halls of academia to the courtroom, this case has struck a nerve in the national conversation about civil liberties. As immigration officials remain silent, student groups and legal observers are rallying behind Mahdawi, viewing his arrest not only as a personal crisis but as a symbolic battle over the boundaries of free expression in America.