In a concerning incident highlighting the intersection of immigration and activism, Mohsen Mahdawi, a Palestinian student activist at Columbia University, was arrested by immigration officials during his U.S. citizenship interview in Colchester, Vermont. According to his attorney, Luna Droubi, this action was "in direct retaliation" for Mahdawi's involvement in pro-Palestinian protests amid the ongoing Israel-Gaza conflict.
Mahdawi, a green card holder and co-founder of Columbia's Palestinian Student Society, has been vocal against Israel’s military actions and participated in impactful campus demonstrations. He is set to graduate next month and has held permanent resident status since 2015. Eyewitness videos surfaced showing him escorted by officers, igniting a debate about the rights of activists in the U.S.
Critics, including Vermont Senator Bernie Sanders, have condemned the detention as unconstitutional. They argue that it aims to silence dissenting voices in the context of rising tensions surrounding global and campus conversations about Israel and Palestine. A federal court temporarily intervened, preventing Mahdawi from being transferred or deported immediately.
This incident forms part of a broader crackdown on immigration by the Trump administration, which has seen increased scrutiny of foreign students. Other activists facing similar situations include students from Tufts University, adding to the urgent calls for protection of free speech and legal due process on campuses nationwide.
