Palestinian man and former Columbia University student, Mohsen Mahdawi, was arrested at a Vermont immigration office where he expected to finalize his U.S. citizenship. Mahdawi, a legal permanent resident since 2015, was detained by Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents, sparking outrage from his attorneys who believe his detention is in retaliation for his advocacy on behalf of Palestinians.
Born in a refugee camp in the West Bank, Mahdawi moved to the U.S. in 2014 and has been an outspoken critic of Israel’s military campaign in Gaza. His friend, Christopher Helali, recorded a video of Mahdawi being led away by authorities, showing him giving a peace sign before being taken into custody.
Mahdawi’s detention has prompted condemnation from Vermont’s congressional delegation, including Sen. Bernie Sanders, Sen. Peter Welch, and Rep. Becca Balint. They have called for his immediate release, arguing that Mahdawi, as a legal resident of the U.S., deserves due process under the law.
This incident comes on the heels of another Palestinian student, Mahmoud Khalil, being detained by ICE for his involvement in campus protests against the war in Gaza. An immigration judge ruled that Khalil can be deported as a national security risk. Both cases have raised concerns about the targeting of Palestinian activists and the impact on their ability to peacefully advocate for their homeland.
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