A federal judge has ordered the release of a Palestinian activist and Columbia University student detained by ICE due to his support for the terrorist group Hamas.
The Hill reported that Mohsen Mahdawi, a green-card holder, was freed from the Northwest State Correctional Facility in St. Albans, Vermont, on Wednesday, January 29, 2025. His case has sparked debate over the Trump administration’s crackdown on pro-Palestinian campus protests.
U.S. District Judge Geoffrey Crawford ruled that Mahdawi’s detention violated First Amendment protections. The decision came after Mahdawi was held for weeks following his arrest during a naturalization interview. Crawford rejected the government’s request to delay the release for seven days.
Mahdawi’s detention began when plainclothes officers handcuffed him at his interview, a moment captured on video that drew widespread attention.
He was one of several international students targeted for deportation due to their involvement in pro-Palestinian demonstrations at Columbia University. The Trump administration has accused these students of promoting antisemitism and supporting foreign terrorist groups.
Judge Crawford emphasized that Mahdawi’s continued detention could suppress protected speech. “His continued detention would likely have a chilling effect on protected speech, which is squarely against the public interest,” Crawford said. He also noted that Mahdawi posed no flight risk or danger to the community.
The ruling marked a significant victory for Mahdawi, the first foreign student arrested under the Trump administration’s deportation efforts to be released. His legal team, including Luna Droubi of Beldock Levine & Hoffman LLP, celebrated the decision.
“Mohsen is a ray of light in his communities,” Droubi said. Mahdawi himself remained defiant, addressing the administration directly. “I am not afraid of you,” he declared.
His release has been hailed as a win for foreign students and faculty facing similar deportations. The Trump administration has taken a hardline stance on immigration, targeting both legal and illegal immigrants.
In his first 100 days, President Trump has focused on college students involved in pro-Palestinian protests, accusing universities of fostering antisemitism. Mahdawi and others have been labeled “pro-Hamas,” a charge critics argue lacks substantiation.
An obscure law has been invoked to justify these deportations, allowing the Secretary of State to remove individuals deemed threats to U.S. foreign policy. Secretary of State Marco Rubio defended the policy, stating, “We gave you a visa to study, not to tear up our campuses.” Rubio added that such activists should “go back” to their home countries.
Tricia McLaughlin, assistant Homeland Security secretary, echoed Rubio’s sentiments. “When you advocate for violence and harass Jews, that privilege should be revoked,” she said. The administration remains committed to its immigration enforcement agenda, undeterred by the court’s ruling.
Mahdawi’s case contrasts with that of Mahmoud Khalil, another Columbia student and pro-Palestinian leader still in detention. Khalil, a green-card holder, was the first student arrested under the administration’s policy. His case continues in Louisiana, where an immigration judge allowed deportation proceedings to move forward.
Khalil’s attorneys are seeking his release on bail, citing his newborn child. Unlike Mahdawi, Khalil has not yet secured a favorable ruling. The differing outcomes highlight the uncertainty facing targeted students.
Carrie DeCell, a senior staff attorney at the Knight First Amendment Institute, argued that deporting green-card holders for political speech is unconstitutional. “They’re entitled to almost the full scope of First Amendment rights,” DeCell said. Her statement underscores the legal battle over these deportations.
Columbia University issued a statement supporting due process for all individuals. “Every individual in this country deserves the due process rights afforded them by law,” a spokesperson said. The university has faced scrutiny for its handling of pro-Palestinian protests.
Mahdawi’s release has galvanized his supporters, who see it as a rebuke of the administration’s tactics. Luna Droubi called the government’s actions “baseless” and vowed to continue fighting for Mahdawi’s permanent freedom. The government, however, is still pursuing his deportation.