Trump administration detains Palestinian Columbia student in immigration crackdown

US authorities arrest Mohsen Mahdawi during citizenship interview as Trump intensifies action against student protesters.

Demonstrators gather at Columbus Circle in New York City on April 12, 2025, in solidarity and to call for the release of detained Columbia University graduate student Mahmoud Khalil. Photo by David Dee Delgado/Getty Images

By Anna Fadiah and Hayu Andini

The Trump administration detains Palestinian Columbia student Mohsen Mahdawi in what many are calling a politically motivated move amid a growing crackdown on pro-Palestinian student activists. Mahdawi, a legal permanent US resident originally from the occupied West Bank, was arrested by immigration officials in Vermont on Monday during what was supposed to be a routine citizenship interview. The move comes as President Donald Trump's administration faces mounting legal challenges over its sweeping immigration enforcement policies, especially those targeting students involved in anti-Israel protests across US campuses.

Mahdawi, who co-founded a prominent Palestinian student group at Columbia University, was expected to graduate next month and had already been accepted into a master's program at the Ivy League school. Instead, he was taken into custody by plain-clothed, masked federal agents in what witnesses described as a disturbing and sudden ambush.

His arrest follows a similar pattern seen in the detention of his colleague Mahmoud Khalil, who became a recognizable figure in the pro-Palestinian student movement after his arrest in March. Both cases have prompted outrage among legal advocates, civil rights groups, and lawmakers, who argue that the Trump administration is weaponizing immigration laws to suppress free speech and student activism.

Political crackdown or immigration enforcement?

While the Trump administration has framed these arrests as routine enforcement of immigration law, critics argue that they are part of a broader political campaign to silence dissent—particularly voices critical of Israel's ongoing war in Gaza. Lawyers for Mahdawi filed an emergency motion in federal court to halt any immediate deportation, arguing that the administration's actions violate his constitutional rights and represent a disturbing abuse of federal power.

District Judge William Sessions issued a temporary restraining order shortly after the filing, preventing authorities from removing Mahdawi from Vermont or deporting him until further notice. The court's intervention temporarily halts what activists and legal experts call a campaign of intimidation that could escalate in the coming weeks.

In a statement issued late Monday, Vermont Senator Bernie Sanders condemned the arrest, calling it “an affront to American values of free speech, due process, and academic freedom.” The statement, co-signed by other Vermont lawmakers, detailed how Mahdawi had walked into what he believed would be the final step toward citizenship, only to be handcuffed and escorted away by armed men with covered faces.

A pattern of arrests targeting pro-Palestinian students

Mahdawi is not the only student targeted. In recent weeks, US Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) has also detained Rumeysa Ozturk, a Turkish student attending Tufts University, and Yunseo Chung, a permanent resident originally from South Korea studying at Columbia. Like Mahdawi and Khalil, their deportations have been temporarily blocked by court orders.

These students were reportedly involved in campus protests criticizing Israel's military operations in Gaza and expressing solidarity with Palestinian civilians. Advocacy groups argue that these arrests are designed to discourage noncitizens from participating in political activism, especially when their views conflict with the Trump administration's pro-Israel stance.

The Palestinian Youth Movement, which has been actively documenting these cases, released a statement denouncing Mahdawi’s arrest as part of an ongoing campaign to “abduct and detain” students opposing what they describe as Israel’s genocide in Gaza. The group called for Mahdawi’s immediate and unconditional release, framing the incident as emblematic of a broader erosion of civil liberties under Trump's leadership.

Implications for campus free speech and immigration law

The Trump administration’s increasingly aggressive immigration tactics have sent a chilling message to students across the United States. Civil liberties organizations warn that targeting legal residents and visa holders who engage in protest activities could set a dangerous precedent, especially at a time when political speech is more polarized than ever.

For many immigrant students, the message is clear: speaking out—particularly on controversial issues like the Israeli-Palestinian conflict—could lead to arrest, detention, or deportation, even if they have legal status. The intersection of immigration enforcement and political repression is drawing concern from across the ideological spectrum, as legal scholars and free speech advocates sound the alarm about the weaponization of federal agencies.

In a public statement, Columbia University expressed concern about the well-being of its students but refrained from commenting on the specifics of Mahdawi’s case, citing privacy and legal constraints. However, sources within the university said faculty and staff were working to provide legal and emotional support for affected students.

Legal battles ahead

Mahdawi’s legal team is expected to argue that the arrest and potential deportation violate constitutional protections including due process, equal protection, and the right to free speech. They contend that Mahdawi was targeted not for any immigration violation, but because of his political beliefs and association with pro-Palestinian activism.

The court's temporary restraining order ensures that Mahdawi cannot be removed from Vermont or the country for now, but the legal battle is far from over. His attorneys are preparing for a full hearing that could set a precedent for how far the federal government can go in targeting immigrant students for political expression.

Meanwhile, immigration attorneys nationwide are bracing for more such cases. Reports suggest that ICE has compiled lists of noncitizen students involved in campus activism, raising concerns about surveillance and profiling.

Trump’s hardline immigration stance intensifies

Since returning to power, President Trump has doubled down on the anti-immigration rhetoric and policies that defined his first term. The focus has now expanded beyond border control to include domestic enforcement targeting immigrants already living legally in the US, especially those involved in political dissent.

Trump’s allies have defended the move as necessary to protect national security and prevent foreign interference in domestic affairs. However, critics view the arrests as part of a larger strategy to consolidate power by criminalizing opposition and scapegoating vulnerable communities.

With the 2024 presidential campaign behind him, Trump appears determined to reshape US institutions to align with his hardline vision. The arrest of Mohsen Mahdawi could become a flashpoint in this struggle, representing not just a legal challenge but a moral reckoning for a country grappling with the meaning of free speech, immigration, and dissent.

As public outrage grows and legal proceedings unfold, the case of Mohsen Mahdawi may help define the boundaries of constitutional rights in a politically divided America. For now, Mahdawi remains in Vermont under court protection, his future uncertain, but his story resonating far beyond the walls of Columbia University.