Overview
- Mohsen Mahdawi, a Palestinian student and U.S. green-card holder, was released on bail after a Vermont judge ruled his detention violated First and Fifth Amendment rights.
- Federal prosecutors have appealed the release to the Second Circuit Court of Appeals, arguing immigration courts should have jurisdiction over his case.
- The Trump administration claims Mahdawi's pro-Palestinian activism poses a threat to U.S. foreign policy, citing controversial and unverified allegations from 2015.
- Mahdawi denies accusations of antisemitic remarks and insists his arrest was retaliation for his advocacy for Palestinian human rights.
- Other international students, including Columbia co-founder Mahmoud Khalil and Tufts PhD student Rumeysa Öztürk, remain detained under similar circumstances, raising concerns about free speech and academic freedom.