Boston — In a shocking turn of events, Mohsen Mahdawi, a Palestinian activist and Columbia University student, was arrested by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents on Monday, April 14, at a Vermont immigration office.

Mahdawi, a legal permanent resident with a green card since 2015, arrived at the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) office in Colchester expecting a routine interview to finalize his U.S. citizenship. Instead, he was handcuffed and detained, sparking outrage among advocates and Vermont’s congressional delegation.

Mahdawi, who has lived in the U.S. for a decade, was a prominent figure in pro-Palestinian protests at Columbia University until March 2024. He co-founded the Palestinian Student Union with Mahmoud Khalil, another Palestinian activist recently detained by ICE.

His arrest is seen as part of a broader Trump administration crackdown targeting students involved in campus protests against Israel’s war in Gaza. Khalil, arrested in March, faces deportation as a “national security risk,” a charge Mahdawi’s lawyers fear may be applied to him.

“The Trump administration detained Mohsen Mahdawi in direct retaliation for his advocacy on behalf of Palestinians and because of his identity as a Palestinian,” said Luna Droubi, Mahdawi’s attorney, in a statement. “His detention is an attempt to silence those who speak out against the atrocities in Gaza. It is also unconstitutional.”

Video footage captured by Christopher Helali, a friend, shows Mahdawi being led away in handcuffs, flashing a peace sign.

Helali described Mahdawi as a peaceful demonstrator who worked to foster dialogue about Palestinian struggles.

“He was nervous but resolute in attending the interview because he did nothing wrong,” Helali said. The video, widely shared on social media, has fueled public anger over the incident.

Vermont Senators Bernie Sanders and Peter Welch, along with Representative Becca Balint, issued a joint statement condemning the arrest as “immoral, inhumane, and illegal.” They demanded Mahdawi’s immediate release, emphasizing that he is a legal resident entitled to due process. “Instead of taking one of the final steps in his citizenship process, he was handcuffed by armed officers with their faces covered,” the statement read.

Mahdawi’s legal team has filed a habeas corpus petition in Vermont’s federal district court, seeking a temporary restraining order to prevent his transfer from the state or deportation. A Vermont District Court judge issued an order on Monday barring his removal from the U.S. pending further legal proceedings. However, concerns persist about his whereabouts, as ICE has not disclosed his current location.

Legal experts call the arrest unprecedented.

“The arrest of a lawful permanent resident, who has not been charged with a crime, at a naturalization interview is highly unusual,” said Elora Mukherjee, director of the Immigrants’ Rights Clinic at Columbia Law School. “This sends a chilling message that non-citizens must be silenced, undermining First Amendment protections.”

Mahdawi, born in a West Bank refugee camp, has been accepted into a master’s program at Columbia’s School of International and Public Affairs. His family remains in the West Bank, where escalating violence has raised fears about his potential deportation. Advocacy groups, including Jewish Voice for Peace, have decried the arrest as an attack on free speech and Palestinian rights.

The incident follows a pattern of ICE targeting pro-Palestinian activists.

Khalil’s detention in Louisiana and a Turkish student’s arrest at Tufts University highlight the administration’s aggressive stance. Critics argue that these actions, coupled with threats to defund universities like Columbia, aim to suppress dissent on college campuses.

As Mahdawi’s case unfolds, supporters rally online with hashtags like #FreeMohsen and #JusticeForPalestinians, urging action. The Council on American-Islamic Relations called for his release, labeling the detention a “blatant attack” on free speech. With legal battles looming, Mahdawi’s arrest underscores tensions over immigration policy and political expression in the U.S.

#FreeMohsen #JusticeForPalestinians
#StopICE #PalestinianRights #FreeSpeech

Tags: ICE, Palestinian activist, Mohsen Mahdawi,
citizenship interview, Columbia University, Trump administration,
deportation, free speech, Vermont, pro-Palestinian protests