Columbia Student Mohsen Mahdawi Released from ICE Custody After Judge's Order

Columbia University student activist Mohsen Mahdawi, a Palestinian and U.S. green-card holder, was released from federal custody in Vermont after being detained by ICE during his naturalization interview in April. His arrest and detention, widely viewed as part of the Trump administration's broader crackdown on pro-Palestinian student protesters, sparked nationwide demonstrations and allegations of First Amendment violations. U.S. District Judge Geoffrey Crawford ordered Mahdawi's immediate release, finding he posed no danger or flight risk and likening his case to historical periods of political repression. The State Department argued that Mahdawi's protest activities at Columbia posed a threat to U.S. foreign policy interests, but supporters and legal advocates decried his detention as politically motivated. Mahdawi, who will retain his permanent residency and continue his studies, publicly thanked his supporters and expressed defiance towards the administration. Other student activists facing similar charges remain in detention as legal battles continue.