Columbia Student and Palestinian Activist Mohsen Mahdawi Released After Federal Detention
U.S. District Judge Geoffrey W. Crawford ordered the release of Mohsen Mahdawi after his arrest by ICE during a naturalization interview.
Mahdawi, 34, is a co-founder of the Palestinian Student Union at Columbia University, established in the fall of 2023 following the October 7 Hamas terrorist attack on Israel.
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Mahdawi’s release, which came after an order from U.S. District Judge Geoffrey W. Crawford, comes as other college students like Mahmoud Khalil and Rümeysa Öztürk continue to fight for their freedom after being detained by federal agents in recent months.
'I am not afraid': Columbia University student Mohsen Mahdawi freed from federal custody
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The administration had argued in court that Mahdawi's very presence in America "would have serious adverse foreign policy consequences and would compromise a compelling U.S. foreign policy interest" because campus protests could "potentially undermine the peace process underway in the Middle East."
Court frees Palestinian student arrested by ICE at his U.S. citizenship hearing
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Mahdawi was a top pro-Palestinian leader on campus who helped organize on-campus protests last year.
Judge orders release of detained pro-Palestinian student activist
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While his legal battle is ongoing, the decision marks a clear victory for the international students at the center of the Trump administration’s crackdown on pro-Palestinian organizers.
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The judge’s decision appears to mark the first release of a high-profile detainee since the Trump campaign to target foreign students in the country began.
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Mahdawi's release does not mean the efforts to deport him are over.
Federal judge frees foreign Columbia student arrested for protests at college
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The Trump administration has broadly portrayed nearly all forms of pro-Palestine advocacy as “anti-Semitic”, in what critics have called an effort to silence freedom of speech.
Columbia protest leader Mohsen Mahdawi released from US custody
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Though Mahdawi’s release marks a rare victory for opponents of the Trump administration’s crackdown on protesters, students like Mahdawi’s Columbia classmate Mahmoud Khalil, Rumeysa Ozturk of Tufts University, and Badar Khan Suri of Georgetown are still being detained on similar grounds.
Mohsen Mahdawi Has Been Released from Federal Custody
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The judge’s opinion took stock of the broader moment in the Trump administration’s immigration crackdown, noting that legal residents who haven’t been charged with any crimes are being arrested and threatened with deportation for stating their views on political issues of the day.
Judge calls out Trump crackdown in ordering release of Columbia student Mohsen Mahdawi
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The court ruling offers the latest test to the administration’s approach to quashing antisemitism and anti-Western sentiment on American university campuses.
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Mahdawi, 34, has been a legal permanent resident for 10 years.
Judge releases Palestinian student at Columbia who was arrested at citizenship interview
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The Trump administration has stepped up immigration enforcement actions against Middle Eastern students tied to pro-Palestinian demonstrations.
Judge orders release of detained Columbia student Mohsen Mahdawi
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Mahdawi's release comes with some conditions: He must stay in his home state of Vermont, though he is allowed to travel to New York City for his schooling and to meetings with his attorneys.
Federal judge orders release of Columbia University student Mohsen Mahdawi
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Mahdawi — legal permanent resident for 10 years — was detained in retaliation for his speech advocating for Palestinian human rights.
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Mahdawi is one of a number of international students who has been detained in recent months for their advocacy on behalf of Palestinians.
Federal judge in Vermont orders release of Columbia student Mohsen Mahdawi
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Mahdawi's attorneys argued that the Trump administration is seeking to deport Mahdawi because he helped lead pro-Palestinian protests on Columbia University's campus in the early months of the Israel-Hamas war, in violation of his First Amendment rights.
Columbia student Mohsen Mahdawi released from ICE detention
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As a student at Columbia, Mahdawi was an outspoken critic of Israel’s military campaign in Gaza and organized campus protests until March 2024.
Anti-Israel Columbia protester detained by ICE is freed after federal judge's order
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Mahdawi’s lawyers say he was detained in retaliation for his speech advocating for Palestinian human rights.
A Palestinian student at Columbia is released 2 weeks after his citizenship interview arrest
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Mahdawi’s lawyers say he was detained in retaliation for his speech advocating for Palestinian human rights.
Vermont judge orders release of a Palestinian man arrested at his US citizenship interview
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Mahdawi’s lawyers say he was detained in retaliation for his speech advocating for Palestinian human rights.
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Columbia student Mohsen Mahdawi is free on bail after judge orders his release from federal custody
NBC News·13h·ReliableThis source consistently reports facts with minimal bias, demonstrating high-quality journalism and accuracy.CenterThis outlet is balanced or reflects centrist views.Mahdawi’s lawyers say he was detained in retaliation for his speech advocating for Palestinian human rights.
A Palestinian student at Columbia is released after his arrest at citizenship interview
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Vt. Judge: Release Man Arrested at Citizenship Interview
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Summary
Mohsen Mahdawi, a Columbia University student and Palestinian activist, was released after Judge Geoffrey W. Crawford ruled his immigration detention violated First Amendment rights. Detained on April 14 by armed DHS agents at a naturalization interview, Mahdawi contends his arrest was politically motivated. His case highlights a larger trend, with many college students targeted for pro-Palestine activism. Following his release, Mahdawi condemned the Trump administration's actions, stating the ruling is a sign of hope for others facing similar challenges. Meanwhile, the administration stands firm, arguing that advocating violence justifies revoking immigration privileges.
Perspectives
A Vermont judge ordered the release of Mohsen Mahdawi, who was detained by immigration authorities while finalizing his U.S. citizenship after leading protests against the war in Gaza as a Columbia University student.
The U.S. government's argument for Mahdawi's detention includes claims that his presence may harm U.S. foreign policy interests, citing activities that Secretary of State Marco Rubio deemed concerning.
Mahdawi's supporters argue that his detention was retaliatory and infringed on his First Amendment rights, raising broader concerns about freedom of speech and political dissent in America.
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