Mahdawi's attorneys argued his detention was retaliatory for his pro-Palestinian activism, violating First Amendment rights, and that immigration authorities misled him about the nature of his April 14 appointment, which turned into an arrest[2][3].

Mahdawi is part of a group of foreign students targeted under immigration provisions allowing deportation if deemed harmful to U.S. foreign policy interests, including Columbia alumnus Mahmoud Khalil and Tufts student Rümeysa Öztürk, who remain detained[4][2].

Mahdawi’s immigration case remains open, with future hearings to determine deportation eligibility. His release only pauses detention while proceedings continue[3][2].

The transfer strategy, previously blocked by Judge Sessions, aimed to relocate detainees to districts with more favorable rulings for the administration’s deportation efforts[2][4].

Mahdawi denied antisemitism, stating his compassion extends to Jewish and Israeli people, and stepped back from protests before encampments or building takeovers occurred[3].