A Palestinian student and prominent organizer of pro-Palestinian protests at Columbia University was arrested Monday by U.S. immigration authorities during what was supposed to be a routine interview for his citizenship application.
Mohsen Mahdawi, a 10-year U.S. resident and green card holder originally from the occupied West Bank, was detained by Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents in Colchester, Vermont. The arrest has sent shockwaves through student activist networks and civil rights circles just weeks before Mahdawi’s expected graduation.
Mahdawi, who has been a visible presence in pro-Palestinian organizing on campus, had recently reduced his public activism, reportedly seeking more dialogue and reconciliation in response to heightened tensions. Still, his past leadership made him a frequent target of harassment, including being labeled “antisemitic” by a pro-Israel professor he had approached for conversation.
His legal counsel, civil rights attorney Luna Droubi, has condemned the arrest as a political act. “This is direct retaliation for his pro-Palestine advocacy and his identity as a Palestinian,” she said in a statement. “The government is trying to silence dissent on Gaza—this is unconstitutional.”
Droubi’s legal team has filed a habeas corpus petition, alleging that Mahdawi’s detention violates his due process rights. According to reports, authorities are attempting to justify the deportation under a policy that allows removal if an individual’s presence is considered contrary to U.S. foreign policy interests.
The arrest follows a broader pattern of ICE detentions targeting pro-Palestine voices. Mahdawi himself had been living under increased stress following the arrest of fellow activist Mahmoud Khalil, and had sought safety assurances from Columbia University—requests that were denied.
A viral video circulating on social media shows Mahdawi being escorted by federal agents, triggering a wave of protests and renewed debate about academic freedom, free speech, and the criminalization of political dissent in the U.S.
“Mohsen is a student, not a threat,” said fellow Columbia student Leila Rahman. “If speaking up for human rights leads to this, none of us are safe.”
As the university community reels from the arrest, organizers are calling for Mahdawi’s immediate release and for Columbia to issue a formal response. Meanwhile, his graduation, once a milestone on the horizon, now hangs in limbo.