Columbia Student Mohsen Mahdawi Detained at Citizenship Interview in Vermont

Detention of Mohsen Mahdawi

• Palestinian student and Columbia activist Mohsen Mahdawi was taken into custody by federal agents in Vermont.
• 📌 His apprehension occurred outside the US Citizenship and Immigration Services Office while he was attending a naturalization interview.
• ⚖️ A federal judge has blocked the removal of Mahdawi from Vermont, though his exact location remains unknown to his attorneys.

Mahdawi's Background and Activism

• 🇺🇸 Mahdawi is a lawful permanent resident and green card holder in the United States, having lived there for 10 years.
• 🎓 He is a student at Columbia University and co-founded the Palestinian Student Union.
• 🗣️ Mahdawi has spoken about his experiences, including a childhood incident in a West Bank refugee camp where he witnessed a friend being shot by an Israeli soldier.

Legal and Political Context

• 🏛️ Mahdawi's legal team filed a petition for his release, emphasizing his status as a green card holder.
• 🔗 Another student activist, Mahmud Khalil, who also co-founded the Palestinian Student Union, has been detained by ICE since early March.
• 🚫 The Trump administration has accused Khalil of aligning with Hamas and has been working to deport him.
• 📰 As of the report, the State Department and the Trump administration have not yet responded to requests for comment.