Judge Orders Release of Palestinian Student Activist Mahdawi in Vermont

A federal judge in Vermont ordered the release of Mohsen Mahdawi, a Palestinian student and activist at Columbia University, who was detained by U.S. immigration authorities after leading pro-Palestinian protests. Mahdawi, a legal permanent resident, was arrested during a citizenship interview in April, with the government citing his activism as harmful to U.S. foreign policy and invoking rarely used immigration provisions. His lawyers argue that his detention was a retaliatory measure for his advocacy of Palestinian rights. The judge compared the government's actions to McCarthy-era 'Red Scare' tactics and found Mahdawi neither a flight risk nor a danger to the community. Mahdawi, now released and permitted to complete his studies, addressed supporters, expressing solidarity with Palestinians and defiance toward the Trump administration. Legal proceedings over his immigration status remain ongoing as he faces potential deportation.