Columbia Student Mohsen Mahdawi Released from ICE Detention After Rally in Vermont

Release and Statement from Mohsen Mahdawi

• 🎤 Mohsen Mahdawi, a Columbia University student, has been released from ICE detention after being taken into custody during a citizenship interview.
• 🗣️ Speaking at a rally in Vermont, Mahdawi expressed gratitude for the support, stating, "home is where you feel safe and loved and those who surround you there are your people and you are my people."
• ✊ He invoked the history of Vermont, referencing the Underground Railroad, the civil rights movement, and anti-Vietnam War protests, to underscore the state's spirit of unity and resistance.
• ⚖️ Mahdawi declared that his presence and the collective voice send a clear message to authorities and the nation: "we the people will hold the constitution accountable for the principles and values that we believe in."
• ❤️ He emphasized that their fight is for love, democracy, and humanity, fueled by an unshakable belief in the inevitability of justice.

Circumstances of Detention and Release

• 📅 Mahdawi was arrested on April 14th, approximately two weeks prior to his release, while on his way to a scheduled meeting.
• ⚠️ According to his lawyers, he was "duped" into attending the meeting, and his lawyer was removed from the room before Mahdawi was arrested and handcuffed.
• 📰 CBS News 24/7 has been covering the case extensively, with reporter Lily Luciano having been in contact with Mahdawi up until the moment of his arrest.
• 📺 The news outlet is committed to bringing further updates and potential interviews with Mahdawi as they become available.