Pro-Palestine activist Mohsen Mahdawi released from ICE detention

A Columbia University student and Palestinian activist, Mohsen Mahdawi, who was detained by US Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), has been released, according to reports from US media outlets.

Mahdawi, who holds permanent US residency status (a green card), was arrested by ICE in mid-April when he arrived for a US citizenship interview in Vermont. His legal team immediately filed a petition for his release, arguing that his detention was unlawful.

The US government claimed that Mahdawi was involved in activities that undermined US foreign policy. However, Luna Droubi, one of Mahdawi’s lawyers, countered that the arrest was "in direct retaliation for his advocacy on behalf of Palestinians and because of his identity as a Palestinian."

On Wednesday, Vermont District Judge Geoffrey Crawford ordered Mahdawi’s release on bail, pending a court decision on a habeas corpus petition challenging his detention. This decision came after the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) joined Mahdawi’s legal team. The judge also rejected a request from government lawyers to delay Mahdawi’s release for an additional seven days.

In a statement, Droubi expressed her relief, calling the charges against Mahdawi “baseless” and a “disgrace to the US Constitution.” She pledged to continue advocating for his full freedom, stating, “We will keep fighting until Mohsen is free for good.”

Outside the courtroom, Mahdawi addressed supporters, saying, “We are pro-peace and anti-war” and offered a message of solidarity to Palestinians, “To my people in Palestine: I feel your pain, I see your suffering; and I see freedom and it is very very soon.”

The day before his arrest, Mahdawi had shared his concerns with CBS News, suggesting that the citizenship interview could be a setup. “It's the first feeling of like, I’ve been waiting for this for more than a year,” he said. “And the other feeling is like, wait a minute. Is this a honey trap?”

Prominent political figures, including Senator Bernie Sanders of Vermont, have voiced support for Mahdawi, calling for his immediate release.

Mahdawi’s detention follows a broader trend of US authorities detaining students and graduates engaged in protests against war, including Mahmoud Khalil from Columbia University and Rumeysa Ozturk from Tufts University.