- Mohsen Mahdawi detained after Vermont naturalization appointment
- Federal judge blocks transfer amid First Amendment concerns
- Case follows similar deportation ruling against co-founder Mahmoud Khalil
- State Department claims authority over adverse foreign policycases
- Both activists organized Gaza war protests at Columbia
Federal agents detained Columbia University senior Mohsen Mahdawi on Monday following what should have been a routine citizenship application process in Colchester, Vermont. The 28-year-old Palestinian refugee turned legal permanent resident now faces potential deportation under controversial immigration statutes – the same provisions used against his Palestinian Student Union co-founder Mahmoud Khalil three months prior.
Legal experts warn this case could establish dangerous precedents for noncitizen activists nationwide. Mahdawi's legal team secured an emergency court order preventing his transfer from Vermont, arguing federal authorities aim to punish constitutionally protected speech about Palestinian rights. Court documents reveal Homeland Security officials referenced Mahdawi's leadership in 2024 campus protests demanding Columbia divest from Israel.
The confrontation reflects growing tensions at elite universities since October 2023. Over 75% of Ivy League schools have reported increased disciplinary actions against pro-Palestine groups, according to Foundation for Individual Rights and Expression data. At Stanford University, three international students faced visa revocation threats last month after organizing an Israeli apartheid awareness week.
Mahdawi's petition details traumatic childhood experiences in Qalqilya refugee camp, including witnessing his friend's death during an Israeli military operation. His attorneys emphasize that returning to the West Bank could endanger his life given current hostilities and his high-profile activism. Since 2025 began, UN records show a 40% increase in Palestinian deportee interrogations at Israeli checkpoints.
The legal battle centers on Immigration and Nationality Act Section 237(a)(4)(C)(i), which grants deportation power for perceived foreign policy risks. Secretary of State Marco Rubio's memorandum claims this applies even to lawful activities – a position First Amendment scholars call constitutionally dubious. Parallel cases in Texas and California courts are challenging this interpretation through 2026.
Columbia administrators face mounting criticism from both sides as commencement approaches. While 62% of Jewish student respondents in a recent Hillel International survey reported feeling unsafe during protests, Arab American groups note a 300% rise in reported bias incidents since February. The university declined comment on Mahdawi's case but confirmed his anticipated May graduation remains pending.
