Overview

• Mohsen Mahdawi, a Palestinian human rights advocate and Columbia University student, was detained by ICE on April 14, 2025, during his naturalization interview in Vermont.
• After spending 16 nights in custody, Mahdawi was released on bail following a ruling by U.S. District Judge Geoffrey W. Crawford, who deemed his release in the public's interest.
• The Department of Homeland Security had planned to transfer Mahdawi to a detention facility in Louisiana, but logistical delays allowed his legal team to intervene effectively.
• The Trump administration has accused Mahdawi of undermining U.S. foreign policy, a claim he and his supporters argue is a pretext to suppress political dissent.
• Mahdawi's case highlights the administration's use of immigration enforcement against pro-Palestinian activists, raising broader concerns about free speech and due process in the U.S.