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Columbia Student Apprehended Amid Escalating Scrutiny of Campus Protests
Another student at Columbia University has been taken into custody by immigration authorities, an action his legal representative describes as “direct retaliation” for his participation in demonstrations concerning the Israel-Gaza conflict.
Mohsen Mahdawi, a U.S. permanent resident who was born and raised in a West Bank refugee camp, was detained by the Department of Homeland Security during his citizenship interview in Vermont on Monday, according to legal documents filed by his lawyer, Luna Droubi.
This action occurs amidst a growing and unprecedented clampdown on international students. Video footage shared by a Vermont legislator depicted three agents, two with obscured faces, escorting Mahdawi in handcuffs to a sport utility vehicle.
Uncertainty Surrounds Detainee’s Location
Despite repeated attempts to ascertain his whereabouts, Droubi stated that the location of Mahdawi’s detention remains unclear. A legal petition challenging his confinement suggests Mahdawi was taken into custody for potential deportation.
A federal judge issued a temporary block on his removal on Monday.
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Lawmakers Condemn “Immoral, Inhumane and Illegal” Detention
Vermont Senator Bernie Sanders and state Representative Becca Balint jointly released a statement denouncing Mahdawi’s detention as “immoral, inhumane, and illegal.”
“Earlier today, Mohsen Mahdawi of White River Junction, Vermont, entered an immigration office for what was intended to be the final step in his naturalization process,” they stated. “Instead, he was arrested and removed in handcuffs by plainclothes, armed individuals who concealed their identities. These individuals refused to disclose any details regarding his destination or intended course of action.”
“Mr. Mahdawi, a lawful permanent resident of the United States, must be granted due process under the law and immediately released from custody,” they asserted.
Neither the Department of Homeland Security nor Immigration and Customs Enforcement have yet responded to requests for comment. Citing federal privacy regulations, a Columbia University spokesperson declined to comment.
Echoes of Prior Student Deportation Case
Mahdawi’s apprehension follows days after an immigration judge in Louisiana authorized the deportation of Mahmoud Khalil, another Columbia student and green card holder. This ruling occurred even as a federal judge in New Jersey had previously halted Khalil’s deportation while he contests his detention in that state.
Federal authorities have accused Khalil, who was a prominent figure in student demonstrations at Columbia, of supporting terrorism and engaging in faith-based harassment. The White House and federal officials have invoked a rarely applied provision of immigration law permitting the “removal of non-citizens who pose significant adverse foreign policy consequences for the United States.”
Crackdown Extends to Tufts University
Rumeysa Öztürk, a student at Tufts University, was also detained by plainclothes agents after publishing an opinion piece in her university newspaper critical of the institution’s reaction to the Gaza conflict, according to her legal representatives.
Federal officials disclosed last month that hundreds of student visas have been revoked amidst this unprecedented crackdown. An analysis by NBC News indicated that the affected students, many of whom originate from the Middle East, span at least 29 states.
Mahdawi’s Advocacy and Background
According to a temporary restraining order filed by Droubi on Monday, Mahdawi relocated to the United States in 2014. The document describes him as an outspoken critic of Israel’s military operations who played a role in organizing protests at Columbia University until March 2024, at which point he reduced his involvement.
Recent reports indicate Mahdawi had attended Columbia and intended to return for a master’s program in the upcoming fall semester.