One Palestinian student at Columbia University, Mohsen Mahdawi, is the second such person from the institution in recent weeks to have been taken in by US immigration officials. Mahdawi was arrested during a routine naturalization interview that he had been ordered to attend by the government. The incident is causing fears about political targeting.
Who Is Mohsen Mahdawi?
Mohsen Mahdawi, a US permanent resident and a busy student at Columbia University, was taken into custody by Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) during his naturalization interview. Mahdawi was born in a West Bank refugee camp. He migrated to the United States in 2014. He gained permanent residence in 2015 and has been studying since then.
Mahdawi had just finished his undergraduate degree at Columbia University and was scheduled to graduate in May. He intended to pursue further studies by starting a master’s program at the university in the fall. His plans, though, went awry after he was arrested by ICE in the last phase of his path toward US citizenship.
Activism and Political Background
Mahdawi has been recognized for his activism on campus, notably for co-founding the Palestinian Student Union at Columbia University with Mahmoud Khalil, another Palestinian student who was also held in detention by ICE. Mahdawi has also been open about his opposition to Israeli occupation and military strikes in Gaza and has been involved in organizing and attending university protests. Up until March 2024, he was visible in the fight for Palestinian rights and in promoting discussion about the cause.
Court records emphasize Mahdawi’s religious convictions, indicating that he is a practicing Buddhist who espouses non-violence and compassion, fundamental principles of his religion. These attributes have been the cornerstone of his activism and his peaceful approach to the Palestinian issue.
Allegations of Political Targeting
According to Mahdawi’s legal team, his detention is not merely bureaucratic but part of a retaliatory action aimed at silencing his political speech. Legal filings claim that Mahdawi’s detention is a direct response to his constitutionally protected speech and activism. As of April 14, his legal team had not received a formal explanation for his detention.
A temporary restraining order has been granted, barring federal officials from moving Mahdawi away from Vermont until legal proceedings are under way.
Public and Political Outcry
The detention of Mahdawi has triggered widespread public and political outrage. Several US legislators, including Senators Bernie Sanders and Peter Welch and Representative Becca Balint — all Vermonters — issued a joint statement condemning the detention. They labeled it “immoral, inhumane, and illegal” and called for Mahdawi to be given due process under the law and released from detention immediately.
Christopher Helali, a longtime friend of Mahdawi, also had doubts, calling Mahdawi a nonviolent demonstrator who intended to promote meaningful dialogue on behalf of the Palestinian cause. “He has been a supporter of peace and of dialogue, never of violence,” Helali explained to the Associated Press.
During the ongoing battle in court, the case challenges significant questions surrounding the intersection between immigration policy, political activism, and free speech in the U.S.
