Mohsen Mahdawi, a Palestinian student leader at Columbia university was arrested on Monday April 14, 2025. The arrest occurred at a U.S. Citizenship and Immigration services facility in Vermont, where Mahdawi was to begin one of the final steps toward becoming a U.S. citizen after holding a green card for over 10 years.
Mahdawi helped lead campus protests a year ago at Columbia university which shed light on the genocide of Palestinians. He is the second Columbia student targeted by ICE for involvement in actions that are constitutionally protected as free speech, the first being Mahmoud Khalil.
Like Khalil, Mahdawi is a green card holder. However, the Trump administration, citing the Immigration and Nationality act, is attempting to revoke his green card and expel him from the country.
The Immigration and Nationality act allows for the cancellation of permanent residency should one’s actions compromise U.S. foreign policy interests. According to the Administration, his outspoken support for a ceasefire in Palestine presents an alleged serious foreign policy consequence, with Secretary of State Marco Rubio stating “If they’re taking activities that are counter to our national interest, to our foreign policy, we’ll revoke the visa”.
The United States District Court District of Vermont, in it’s petition for writ of Habeas Corpus, has stated “In addition to violating Mr. Mahdawi’s First Amendment rights, the Rubio Determination and Mr. Mahdawi’s unlawful detention also violates Mr. Mahdawi’s statutory rights and due process rights.”
While the Administration has also claimed that the rise of Pro-Palestinian protests have led to a rise in antisemitic speech, many leaders in the movement, including Mahdawi, have made large efforts to shut out antisemitic speech from having any role. Mahdawi, in an interview with 60 Minutes, stated “The fight for freedom of Palestine and the fight against antisemitism go hand in hand because injustice anywhere is a threat to justice everywhere”.
Zinnia 
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