Overview

• Mohsen Mahdawi, a Palestinian student and legal permanent resident, was detained during a U.S. citizenship interview in April and released on April 30 by a federal judge citing concerns over free speech suppression.
• The Trump administration argues for Mahdawi's deportation, claiming his activism threatens U.S. foreign policy, while the judge ruled his arrest raised substantial constitutional questions.
• On May 8, Mahdawi joined Vermont officials to launch a $1 million legal defense fund aimed at expanding immigrant legal representation and building long-term support for at-risk communities.
• Vermont leaders, including Gov. Phil Scott, have condemned Mahdawi’s arrest, with bipartisan resolutions advocating for his due process rights and criticizing federal enforcement tactics.
• Mahdawi, who co-founded the Palestinian Student Union at Columbia University, plans to attend his graduation later this month while his deportation case remains under appeal.