Overview

• U.S. District Judge Geoffrey W. Crawford ordered the release of Mohsen Mahdawi on bail, citing significant constitutional concerns over his detention.
• Mahdawi, a U.S. permanent resident originally from the West Bank, was detained on April 14 during a Vermont naturalization interview, which his attorneys argue was a premeditated trap.
• The government alleges Mahdawi poses a national security threat, citing sealed evidence and claims of support for antisemitic violence, which Mahdawi vehemently denies.
• Mahdawi’s case is part of a broader Trump administration effort targeting pro-Palestinian student activists, with over 1,000 students facing visa revocations or deportation since late 2024.
• Parallel legal proceedings continue for Mahmoud Khalil, another detained Columbia student, whose challenge to his removal remains under review in New Jersey federal court.