Columbia Student Released Amid Deportation Proceedings
BURLINGTON, Vermont — A federal judge on Wednesday ordered the immediate release of Columbia University student Mohsen Mahdawi, who was detained earlier this month as part of a federal effort to remove foreign students involved in pro-Palestinian protests.
U.S. District Judge William Sessions III granted Mahdawi’s release from federal immigration custody, allowing him to remain free while legal proceedings continue. The ruling does not halt the government’s broader deportation case but prevents Mahdawi’s transfer to another jurisdiction, a strategy the administration has previously used in similar cases.
Background on the Case
Mahdawi, a Palestinian raised in the West Bank, has lived in the United States for a decade and holds legal permanent residency. He was nearing the final steps of the naturalization process when immigration officers detained him during a scheduled interview in Vermont on April 14.
The case gained national attention as part of a broader effort by the U.S. State Department to designate certain international students as contrary to American foreign policy interests. Secretary of State Marco Rubio invoked a rarely used legal provision to facilitate expedited deportation proceedings.
Judge Cites First Amendment and Public Safety Concerns
At Wednesday’s hearing, Judge Sessions expressed concerns about the implications of targeting students for their speech and protest activity. Comparing the situation to Cold War-era McCarthyism, he stated that the case raised serious constitutional questions.
“Even another day of detention is not to be tolerated,” Sessions said, noting that Mahdawi did not pose a flight risk or public safety concern.
Mahdawi is permitted to return to Columbia University, where he is set to graduate in May. He plans to pursue graduate studies later this year. The judge indicated that a full written order outlining the terms of release will be issued.
Broader Legal Context
Mahdawi’s detention is part of a wider initiative to deport several international students and academics associated with campus demonstrations or critical writings on U.S. foreign policy. These include Mahmoud Khalil of Columbia, Badar Khan Suri of Georgetown University, and Rumeysa Ozturk of Tufts University. In each case, officials cited national interest concerns, although courts have begun allowing First Amendment challenges to proceed.
Mahdawi is believed to be the first student ordered released after being detained under the State Department’s foreign-policy-based designation.
Support and Response
Emerging from the courthouse, Mahdawi thanked supporters and reaffirmed his commitment to free expression. “Me standing here in front of you sends a clear message: We the people will hold the Constitution accountable for the principles that we believe in,” he said.
Federal agencies have not yet publicly commented on the ruling.
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