Palestinian Columbia Student Leader Arrested by ICE During Citizenship Interview

Mohsen Mahdawi, an outspoken pro-Palestinian activist, faces deportation to the occupied West Bank in what advocates call a politically motivated case.

Mohsen Mahdawi, a Palestinian graduate student at Columbia University, was detained by ICE during a scheduled naturalization interview in Vermont on April 14, 2025.
Mahdawi is now facing a deportation order to the occupied West Bank, which he describes as a potential 'death sentence' due to the ongoing violence in the region.
His arrest is being widely condemned as politically motivated, linked to his prominent role in pro-Palestinian activism and criticism of Israeli policies.
Mahdawi has been the target of online harassment and public campaigns by pro-Israel groups, including calls for his deportation and accusations of antisemitism.
Columbia University has faced criticism for providing minimal support to Mahdawi and other targeted students, despite repeated pleas for protection from immigration enforcement.