A Palestinian student activist, Mohsen Mahdawi, was arrested by U.S. immigration officials during his citizenship interview, according to his lawyer. 

Mahdawi, a green card holder and soon-to-be graduate from Columbia University in New York, was detained on Monday in Colchester, Vermont. 

His lawyer claims the arrest was a retaliatory action for his involvement in pro-Palestinian demonstrations on campus, particularly related to the Israel-Gaza conflict.

Mahdawi, who has held U.S. permanent resident status since 2015, was an outspoken advocate for Palestinian rights and co-founded Columbia’s Palestinian Student Society. 

He had previously criticized Israel’s actions in Gaza, even discussing his views on CBS’ 60 Minutes last December, where he accused Israel of committing genocide—a claim Israel denies.

The lawyer, Luna Droubi, argued that the detention was an unconstitutional attempt to silence voices protesting the situation in Gaza. 

She has filed for a temporary restraining order to prevent Mahdawi’s removal or deportation from the U.S. Federal Judge William Sessions swiftly granted the order.

This arrest follows a broader trend of heightened immigration enforcement under the Trump administration, with several students linked to anti-Israel protests facing detention. 

Vermont Senator Bernie Sanders condemned the detention, asserting that Mahdawi’s arrest violated his rights and called for his immediate release.

Mahdawi, born in a West Bank refugee camp, is also described by his lawyer as a Buddhist committed to non-violence. 

His case is part of an ongoing wave of immigration scrutiny aimed at students involved in political activism related to the Israel-Palestine issue.

Source: BBC

BDST: 1147 HRS, April 15, 2025
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