Pro-Palestinian Columbia student detained by ICE during citizenship test

Mohsen Mahdawi, a Palestinian student at Columbia University and longtime US green card holder, was detained by federal immigration authorities Monday morning during what was supposed to be the final step in his citizenship process, his lawyers confirmed.

Mahdawi, who co-founded the Columbia student group “DAR” to amplify Palestinian voices on campus, was arrested at a US Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) office in Colchester, Vermont. His attorney, Luna Droubi, said the arrest was carried out by plainclothes agents with covered faces who refused to disclose where they were taking him.

He had feared this outcome. In an interview with The Intercept the night before his arrest, Mahdawi said he worried the citizenship interview might be a trap. He had been in hiding for over three weeks following the March 8 arrest of his colleague Mahmoud Khalil — another green card holder and pro-Palestinian activist — who now faces deportation.

A video shared online shows Mahdawi being led out of a building in handcuffs. His legal team filed an emergency habeas corpus petition in federal court in Vermont, seeking his immediate release and arguing that his detention violates his rights to free speech and due process.

“Mohsen Mahdawi was detained in direct retaliation for his advocacy on behalf of Palestinians and because of his identity as a Palestinian,” Droubi said. “His detention is an attempt to silence those who speak out against the atrocities in Gaza. It is also unconstitutional.”

Mahdawi, 30, grew up in a refugee camp in the West Bank and moved to the US in 2014. He became a lawful permanent resident the following year. After starting at Lehigh University, he transferred to Columbia in 2021, where he became a prominent voice in campus protests against 'Israel’s' war on Gaza. He helped organize demonstrations, spoke at rallies, and appeared on national television, including CBS’s 60 Minutes.

Court filings indicate Mahdawi is not accused of any crimes. Instead, his arrest is reportedly based on a rarely used clause in the Immigration and Nationality Act that allows the government to deport individuals deemed to pose “potentially serious adverse foreign policy consequences.” The same provision is being used in the case against Khalil.

Federal authorities have not confirmed Mahdawi’s current location or commented on his detention. The Department of Homeland Security did not respond to requests for comment.

Later Monday, Vermont’s congressional delegation, Senators Bernie Sanders and Peter Welch, and Representative Becca Balint, issued a statement condemning the arrest.

“Earlier today, Mohsen Mahdawi walked into an immigration office for what was supposed to be the final step in his citizenship process,” they wrote. “Instead, he was arrested and removed in handcuffs by plain-clothed, armed individuals with their faces covered. This is immoral, inhumane, and illegal. Mr. Mahdawi, a legal resident of the United States, must be afforded due process under the law and immediately released from detention.”

Mahdawi was recently accepted into Columbia’s School of International and Public Affairs and planned to begin graduate studies this fall. His legal team says his detention jeopardizes not just his education, but signals a wider campaign against protected political speech.

Civil rights advocates have warned of increasing immigration enforcement targeting pro-Palestinian voices. Mahdawi’s name recently appeared on Canary Mission, a controversial website that doxxes individuals it claims are anti-'Israel'. A newly created section on the site “Uncovering Foreign Nationals” lists non-citizen activists like Mahdawi and Khalil, suggesting they should be punished for their views.

“There’s a message being sent here,” Droubi said. “It’s that Palestinians — even those who live here legally, are not safe if they speak out.”

Mahdawi’s habeas petition remains pending in federal court. His lawyers are seeking an emergency order to prevent his removal from the US.