Palestinian student leader at Columbia University arrested ahead of US citizenship interview

COLCHESTER, VERMONT, USA - APR. 14, 2025 - RESTRICTION: “Christopher Helali via X" - NO RESALE / MUST ON-SCREEN COURTESY - A Palestinian student at Columbia University was detained by US Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) on Monday while attempting to complete a citizenship interview in Vermont, according to a report. Mohsen K. Mahdawi, a legal permanent resident and former leader of the campus protest movement, was taken into custody at the US Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) office in Colchester, Vermont, the Intercept reported. “He came to this country hoping to be free to speak out about the atrocities he has witnessed, only to be punished for such speech,” attorney Luna Droubi told The Intercept, describing his detention as unlawful and rooted in his Palestinian identity. His lawyers filed a habeas corpus petition, alleging the US government was violating his due process rights by targeting him for his political views. The filing suggested that he could be deported under a rarely used provision, the Cold War-era Immigration and Nationality Act, which allows immigrants to be deemed threats to American foreign policy and has been used by Secretary of State Marco Rubio in other recent cases, including against Palestinian activist Mahmoud Khalil. (Footage by Christopher Helali via X/Anadolu Agency via Getty Images)