Palestinian Activist Detained During U.S. Naturalization Process

A federal judge has temporarily blocked the expulsion of Mohsen Mahdawi, raising constitutional concerns over free speech and immigration enforcement.

• Mohsen Mahdawi, a Palestinian activist and permanent U.S. resident since 2015, was detained by immigration officials during his naturalization interview in Vermont.
• Authorities cite U.S. diplomatic interests as the reason for seeking Mahdawi’s expulsion, a justification also used in similar cases like that of activist Mahmoud Khalil.
• Mahdawi co-founded a pro-Palestinian student group at Columbia University and is accused of being targeted for his political activism, raising First Amendment concerns.
• A Vermont federal judge has ruled that Mahdawi cannot be removed from the U.S. or the state while legal proceedings continue, delaying his potential expulsion.
• The case intensifies debate over the balance between national security and constitutional rights, with prominent figures like Senator Bernie Sanders calling for Mahdawi’s release.

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