Mohsen Mahdawi, a Palestinian man and prominent activist at Columbia University, was apprehended by federal agents this past Monday as he arrived for a citizenship interview in Vermont, according to court filings from his attorneys. This incident is part of a broader crackdown under the Trump administration, which is also attempting to deport another Columbia activist, Mahmoud Khalil.
Mahdawi's legal team informed CBS News that federal agents detained him based on an obscure law permitting deportations if the Secretary of State determines an individual poses adverse foreign policy consequences for the United States. The same provision was previously cited in the detention of Khalil, raising questions about the motivations behind these actions.
In response to Mahdawi's detention, his lawyers filed a petition in court seeking his immediate release, arguing that his detention violates the First Amendment. Attorney Luna Droubi stated that Mahdawi's arrest is a direct retaliation for his advocacy on behalf of Palestinians and is indicative of an attempt to silence voices opposing the atrocities occurring in Gaza.
Despite multiple attempts to locate Mahdawi, his legal team has yet to receive confirmation of his whereabouts. In a temporary ruling, Federal Judge William Sessions barred the government from removing Mahdawi from Vermont, highlighting the legal complexities surrounding his case.
Mahdawi, who was born in a refugee camp in the West Bank, has been a lawful permanent resident of the United States for the last decade. He completed a philosophy program at Columbia University late last year and was expected to graduate in May before pursuing a master's degree this fall. Alongside Mahmoud Khalil, he co-founded Columbia's Palestinian Student Union in 2023, which has been active in campus protests regarding the ongoing conflict in Gaza.
Khalil has also been vocal in these protests, which intensified after the Hamas attack on southern Israel on October 7, 2023. The attention surrounding Mahdawi escalated earlier this year when Betar USA, a pro-Israel organization, included him on a deportation list and tweeted a video of him. Betar spokesman Daniel Levy stated that the group has provided the Trump administration with thousands of names of individuals they accuse of supporting Hamas.
Mahdawi's lawyers assert that he has consistently advocated for a peaceful political solution to the Palestinian conflict. In a 2023 interview with CBS News' 60 Minutes, he expressed shock at an antisemitic remark made during a campus rally, emphasizing that such views do not represent the Palestinian community.
Mahdawi is not alone in facing immigration detention; fellow student Khalil also holds a green card and was detained outside his Columbia apartment last month. The government is pursuing his removal based on accusations of supporting Hamas and engaging in disruptive protest activities. They cited a memo from Secretary of State Marco Rubio claiming Khalil's actions conflict with American foreign policy, although specific evidence has not been provided.
The situation has escalated further with the detention of Tufts University student Rumeysa Ozturk, who was reportedly targeted for co-authoring an op-ed in her student newspaper. Both Khalil and Ozturk are currently detained in Louisiana as their legal battles unfold.
Last week, a federal immigration judge ruled that the government can proceed with efforts to deport Khalil, although he has until later this month to seek relief from deportation. His legal team plans to appeal, and he is also pursuing a separate lawsuit regarding his detention. Ozturk is engaged in a similar legal fight for her release, with her attorneys challenging the Trump administration in court.
In defense of the government's actions, Secretary Rubio has publicly stated intentions to revoke the visas and green cards of individuals they deem Hamas supporters in the U.S., further intensifying the debate around immigration policy and free speech in relation to activism on college campuses.
