Press Release: Judge Orders Release of Palestinian Student Activist Detained by ICE
Burlington, Vermont—In a significant legal development, U.S. District Judge Geoffrey Crawford ordered the release of Mohsen Mahdawi, a Palestinian man and Columbia University student, who was arrested by immigration officials during an interview to finalize his U.S. citizenship. The ruling follows Mahdawi’s vocal advocacy for Palestinian human rights, notably through organizing protests against the ongoing war in Gaza.
Mahdawi, a legal permanent resident for a decade, was detained by Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents on April 14, 2023, and held at the Northwest State Correctional Facility in St. Albans. A subsequent court order prevented the government from removing him from the state or country.
Defense attorneys argue that Mahdawi’s detention was politically motivated, claiming it was a direct response to his outspoken views. Court documents reveal that the government seeks to deport him under the Immigration and Nationality Act, citing concerns from Secretary of State Marco Rubio about the potential foreign policy repercussions of Mahdawi’s activities.
The government maintains that Mahdawi’s detention is part of a valid deportation process, contending that district courts lack jurisdiction over such administrative proceedings, as articulated by Vermont’s acting U.S. Attorney Michael Drescher.
Originally from a refugee camp in the Israeli-occupied West Bank, Mahdawi moved to the U.S. in 2014 and has recently completed his coursework at Columbia, with graduation anticipated in May. He co-founded the Palestinian Student Union and has been a prominent critic of Israel’s military actions in Gaza.
The case has drawn significant attention, highlighting tensions between immigration enforcement and political expression in the U.S. The legal battle reflects broader concerns about the implications of immigration practices on academic freedom and activism.
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