Columbia student held over Gaza stir freed in US

Agencies Vermont 

A federal judge in Vermont ordered the release of Columbia University student Mohsen Mahdawi on Wednesday, two weeks after his arrest by Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) following his citizenship interview. US District Judge Geoffrey Crawford, in a hearing, stated that the detention had caused "great harm" to Mahdawi, who has not been accused of any crime, declaring, "Mr. Mahdawi, I will order you released."

Upon his release, Mahdawi addressed supporters outside the courthouse, describing Judge Crawford's decision as "a light of hope." He lauded the judge's bravery in the face of "heinous accusations, horrible attacks, chills of speech, First Amendment violations," expressing his faith in the American justice system. In a direct message to President Trump and his cabinet, Mahdawi asserted, "I am not afraid of you."

Judge Crawford determined that Mahdawi posed no flight risk, allowing him to remain in Vermont, where he has a residence, and attend his studies remotely. The order also permits Mahdawi to travel to New York City to meet with his legal team and visit his university. Mahdawi, who co-founded the Palestinian Student Union at Columbia University with fellow detained student Mahmoud Khalil, has been a legal resident of the U.S. for the past decade, having moved from a refugee camp in the West Bank in 2014.

Mahdawi's arrest occurred at a U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services office in Vermont as he was completing the final steps of his citizenship process. Judge Crawford highlighted the significant support Mahdawi received, noting over 90 letters from community members, including individuals from the Jewish community, consistently describing him as "peaceful." His legal team believes, similar to Khalil's case, that Mahdawi was targeted by the Trump administration under a section of the Immigration and Nationality Act that allows for deportation based on potential adverse foreign policy consequences.

At Columbia, Mahdawi was known as an "outspoken critic of Israel's military campaign in Gaza and an activist and organizer in student protests" until March 2024.