Press Release
Palestinian Student Mohsen Mahdawi Detained in Vermont Faces Immigration Battle
Vermont – Mohsen Mahdawi, a Palestinian student recently detained by immigration agents during a U.S. citizenship interview, has been ordered to remain in Vermont for at least 90 days as his legal team seeks his release. U.S. District Judge Geoffrey Crawford announced Wednesday that he will extend a restraining order preventing the government from deporting or transferring Mahdawi.
A follow-up hearing is scheduled next week, alongside an immigration court date in Louisiana set for May 1, though specifics about that hearing are unclear. Mahdawi’s attorneys assert that the detainment is retaliatory; they claim the Trump administration aims to deport him for his leadership role in pro-Palestinian protests at Columbia University, violating his First Amendment rights.
The administration has cited an obscure law allowing visa revocation based on potential "adverse foreign policy consequences," a rationale used in similar cases affecting other student activists. "The government has no basis for Mohsen’s detention other than his speech," said attorney Luna Droubi, condemning the actions as both baseless and unconstitutional.
In response to accusations of antisemetic behavior during protests, Mahdawi has publicly stressed his compassion for both Palestinians and Israelis, distancing himself from claims made by the pro-Israel group Betar USA, which has targeted him. He expressed concern about being detained when he received his appointment for citizenship hearing, suspecting it might be a setup.
A longtime resident of the U.S. and co-founder of Columbia’s Palestinian Student Union, Mahdawi was set to graduate with a philosophy degree next month. His case highlights ongoing tensions surrounding immigration and free speech rights amidst the complex backdrop of U.S. foreign policy and domestic activism.
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