A Palestinian man who led anti-war demonstrations concerning Gaza while studying at Columbia University was taken into custody on Monday at a Vermont immigration office, where he had anticipated attending an interview to finalise his US citizenship, according to his legal representatives.
Mohsen Mahdawi, a legal permanent resident since 2015, was apprehended by Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents at the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services office in Colchester, his attorneys reported.
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His lawyers stated they are unaware of his current location. They have filed a federal court petition requesting an order to prevent the government from relocating him from either the state or the country.
“The Trump administration’s detention of Mohsen Mahdawi is a direct retaliation for his Palestinian identity and his activism for Palestinian rights. This is an attempt to suppress voices protesting the atrocities in Gaza and violates constitutional rights,” said attorney Luna Droubi in an email statement.
According to the court documents, Mahdawi was born in a refugee camp in the West Bank and moved to the U.S. in 2014. He recently completed academic work at Columbia and was scheduled to graduate in May before starting a master’s programme there in the autumn.
The petition describes Mahdawi as a devoted Buddhist who considers "non-violence and empathy central principles of his faith."
While at university, Mahdawi vocally opposed Israel’s military actions in Gaza and played a key role in organising campus protests until March 2024. He co-founded the Palestinian Student Union at Columbia alongside Mahmoud Khalil, another Palestinian and permanent U.S. resident, who is also a graduate student and was recently detained by ICE.
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Khalil became the first individual to be arrested as part of former President Donald Trump’s declared campaign to target students participating in anti-Gaza war campus protests. Last Friday, an immigration judge in Louisiana ruled that Khalil could be deported on national security grounds.
Christopher Helali, a Vermont resident and friend of Mahdawi, was outside the immigration office during the arrest and filmed Mahdawi being escorted away. The video, which Helali shared on social media on Monday, shows Mahdawi flashing a peace sign as authorities lead him to a vehicle.
Helali characterised Mahdawi as a peaceful protester who promoted dialogue on the plight of Palestinians. He noted that both he and Mahdawi had anticipated the possibility of detention, but Mahdawi chose to proceed with the interview.
“He was understandably anxious given the situation, but he remained determined to attend the appointment because he believed he had done nothing wrong and had abided by the law as a current—or soon-to-be—citizen,” Helali said.
Vermont’s congressional representatives released a joint statement condemning Mahdawi’s arrest. They noted that instead of completing one of the final steps toward U.S. citizenship, he was handcuffed by masked, armed officers.
“This action is immoral, inhumane, and unlawful. Mr. Mahdawi, a lawful U.S. resident, must be granted his legal rights and released from custody without delay,” said Senators Bernie Sanders, Peter Welch, and Representative Becca Balint in the statement.