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Penned in the Crossfire: The Detention of Mohsen Mahdawi
Just one day before Mohsen Mahdawi was set to attend a citizenship interview, he expressed concerns to CBS News about the potential risks of the appointment. A Columbia University student and Palestinian activist, Mahdawi had endured a lengthy wait for this moment, only to harbor suspicions that it could be a setup.
“I’ve been waiting for this for more than a year,” said Mahdawi, who hails from the Israeli-occupied West Bank and has held a green card for the past decade. “But I can’t shake the feeling that I might be walking into a trap.”
His fears were realized when he arrived at the interview location in Vermont and was detained by immigration agents. CBS News reported that federal agents were seen preparing shortly after his entrance and later emerged with Mahdawi in handcuffs approximately an hour later.
According to his attorneys, Mahdawi was taken into custody under a rarely invoked law that permits the deportation of foreign nationals deemed to have “serious adverse foreign policy consequences.” This incident adds to the alarming trend of detention among students, as evidenced by the case of fellow Columbia activist Mahmoud Khalil. Mahdawi’s legal team has filed a petition seeking his release, arguing that his detention is a punitive measure for exercising his right to free speech, as protected under the First Amendment, as well as a violation of his due process rights.
In a timely response to his detention, federal Judge William Sessions ordered that Mahdawi could not be deported or relocated from Vermont while the case is under consideration, granting a request from his attorneys.
The Department of Homeland Security redirected inquiries to the State Department, which opted not to provide any comments.
Mahdawi, who anticipated graduating with a degree in philosophy this May, co-founded the Palestinian Student Union at Columbia in 2023 alongside Khalil. He has been active in organizing protests on his campus against the ongoing conflict in Gaza, which significantly escalated following the terrorist attack by Hamas on October 7, 2023. As tensions mounted, his legal team noted that Mahdawi withdrew from leading the protests in March 2024, before they transformed into larger demonstrations, including protests that involved occupying university buildings.
These campus protests ignited a national debate, with some critics accusing the demonstrations and their leadership of perpetuating antisemitic rhetoric. Columbia University is among several institutions that have faced federal funding freezes instituted by the Trump administration, which claims that the university failed to adequately protect students and faculty from antisemitic threats and violence.
In a previous interview, Mahdawi reported facing “threats” and “intimidation” following his participation in discussions surrounding the protests, which included a late 2023 feature on “60 Minutes.” The attention of pro-Israel groups, such as Betar USA, also turned toward Mahdawi after President Trump’s administration took office. The group publicly listed Mahdawi on what they deemed a “deport list,” stirring further controversy.
Ross Glick, former Executive Director of Betar USA, stated that the organization has compiled information on many pro-Palestinian activists to share with federal authorities. He clarified, “Once information is handed off, we’re out of the process; it’s ultimately up to the government to determine who supports Hamas.”
In response to these allegations, Mahdawi asserted that organizations like Betar distort facts, fabricating narratives to target student activists. He has firmly denied any claims of antisemitism tied to the protests at Columbia, labeling them as “false accusations.” He emphasized his belief in a wider compassion that extends beyond the Palestinian people to include Jewish individuals and Israelis.
Fearful after Khalil’s recent detention outside his Columbia apartment, Mahdawi expressed his apprehensions about becoming a target himself. Khalil remains in custody in Louisiana, with an immigration judge recently permitting the Trump administration to pursue deportation, although his lawyers have until late April to seek further options for relief. They have also voiced intentions to appeal the judge’s ruling.
Despite apprehensions for his own safety, Mahdawi resolved to attend the citizenship appointment as he felt it could represent an important stand. Reflecting on this decision, he remarked, “It’s an irony. The irony of destiny. And I accept the outcome. If my story becomes part of the struggle for justice and democracy in this country, then let it be.”
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