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Palestinian Student Faces Deportation After Arrest at U.S. Citizenship Interview

Mohsen Mahdawi, a Columbia University student, is the ninth targeted under a secretive immigration crackdown criticized for undermining due process and free speech.

Mohsen Mahdawi speaks at a protest on the Columbia University campus on Nov. 9, 2023, in New York City. Mahdawi, a Columbia University student and green card holder, was arrested in Vermont by immigration officials on April 14, 2025.

Overview

  • Mohsen Mahdawi, a lawful permanent resident and Palestinian student at Columbia University, was arrested by U.S. immigration agents during his citizenship interview in Vermont on April 14.
  • The Trump administration is invoking a rarely used Cold War-era provision of the Immigration and Nationality Act to revoke Mahdawi’s residency, citing unsubstantiated foreign policy threats.
  • Mahdawi is one of at least nine Columbia students targeted under this initiative, which has also resulted in over 1,000 student visa revocations nationwide.
  • Rep. Becca Balint (D-Vt.) condemned the arrest, highlighting the lack of evidence and transparency, and called for accountability from the administration.
  • Immigration lawyer Matt Cameron warned that the enforcement actions send a chilling message, equating political dissent and free speech with immigration risks.