Vermont Judge Orders Release of Palestinian Man Arrested During U.S. Citizenship Interview: The Mohsen Mahdawi Case Explained | CNN

Judge Orders Release of Palestinian Activist

A judge has ordered the release of Mohsen Mahdawi, a Palestinian man who led protests against the Gaza conflict while studying at Columbia University. His detention happened during an interview to finalize his U.S. citizenship paperwork.

U.S. District Judge Geoffrey Crawford issued this ruling in Burlington, Vermont, following Mahdawi’s arrest by Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) on April 14. He had been held at a correctional facility in St. Albans. The judge also prohibited the government from deporting him.

Mahdawi’s legal team argues that his detention is retaliation for his activism in support of Palestinian rights. Court documents indicate that the government claims Mahdawi is removable under the Immigration and Nationality Act. They assert that his actions could harm U.S. foreign policy interests.

The government’s position is that Mahdawi’s detention is legal and part of the deportation process, suggesting that the courts cannot challenge how deportations are handled. Michael Drescher, Vermont’s acting U.S. attorney, noted that district courts do not typically intervene in these cases.

Born in a refugee camp in the occupied West Bank, Mahdawi moved to the U.S. in 2014. Recently, he finished his studies at Columbia, aiming to graduate this May and pursue a master’s degree. He was a vocal critic of Israel’s military actions in Gaza and co-founded the Palestinian Student Union at Columbia with Mahmoud Khalil, another Palestinian student who also faced immigration issues.

This incident highlights a growing concern about how political activism can impact immigration status, raising questions around free speech. A recent study by the Pew Research Center found that nearly 70% of Americans believe that political speech should be protected, signaling public support for the rights of activists like Mahdawi.

For further information on reporting and deportation cases, refer to the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU).

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