Mohsen Mahdawi's detention by US immigration authorities raises concerns about retaliation against activist voices. As a prominent figure advocating for Palestinian rights, his arrest has escalated tensions on college campuses and drawn national attention.
Columbia Activist Fears US Immigration Interview Was a Trap
Columbia Activist Fears US Immigration Interview Was a Trap
Mohsen Mahdawi, a student and Palestinian activist, has been arrested by ICE during a citizenship interview he suspected was a setup.
Mohsen Mahdawi, a student at Columbia University, was arrested by US Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) during what he believed to be a potentially perilous citizenship interview. The Palestinian activist expressed his fears just a day prior, questioning whether the appointment was a "honey trap" designed to ensnare him.
After attending his citizenship interview in Colchester, Vermont, Mahdawi, who has lived in the US since 2014 and holds permanent residency, was taken into custody. His attorney, Luna Droubi, pointed out that the arrest was likely retribution for Mahdawi's advocacy regarding Palestinian rights, asserting that it aimed to silence dissent against actions in Gaza.
Born in a West Bank refugee camp, Mahdawi is a well-regarded philosophy student who was on the cusp of graduating. He co-founded Columbia's Palestinian Student Union and has been actively involved in protests against the Israeli government following the recent conflict with Hamas.
In a wave of arrests, fellow activists Mahmoud Khalil and Rumeysa Ozturk from Columbia and Tufts universities, respectively, have also been detained. Mahdawi's lawyers have noted that following renewed activism in March 2024, he has experienced significant backlash, including a suspension from participating in protests.
After Mahdawi's arrest, a federal judge issued an order preventing his removal from Vermont, amid fears that such detentions might aim to intimidate those voicing pro-Palestinian sentiments. Notably, this tension coincides with an announcement from US Secretary of State Marco Rubio regarding the revocation of hundreds of international student visas as part of an effort against what was described as growing antisemitism in academic settings.
In previous media interactions, Mahdawi emphasized his compassionate views toward both Palestinians and Israelis, challenging narratives that position his activism as anti-Semitic. Meanwhile, the ongoing situation has ignited protests for his release and has raised broader questions about the legality of immigration detentions linked to political expression under US law.
