Palestinian activist arrested by ICE whereas anticipating U.S. citizenship interview

A Palestinian man who led protests in opposition to the struggle in Gaza as a pupil at Columbia College was arrested Monday at a Vermont immigration workplace the place he anticipated to be interviewed about finalizing his U.S. citizenship, his attorneys mentioned.

Mohsen Mahdawi, a authorized everlasting resident who has held a inexperienced card since 2015, was detained on the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Providers workplace in Colchester, Vt., by Immigration and Customs Enforcement brokers, his legal professionals mentioned.

The attorneys mentioned they have no idea the place he’s and have filed a petition in federal courtroom looking for an order barring the federal government from eradicating him from the state or nation.

“The Trump administration detained Mohsen Mahdawi in direct retaliation for his advocacy on behalf of Palestinians and due to his id as a Palestinian. His detention is an try to silence those that converse out in opposition to the atrocities in Gaza. Additionally it is unconstitutional,” legal professional Luna Droubi mentioned in an electronic mail.

In keeping with the courtroom submitting, Mahdawi was born in a refugee camp within the West Financial institution and moved to america in 2014.

He just lately accomplished coursework at Columbia in New York and was anticipated to graduate in Could earlier than starting a grasp’s diploma program there within the fall.

The petition describes him as a dedicated Buddhist who believes in “non-violence and empathy as a central tenet of his faith.”

Arrest ‘immoral, inhumane, and unlawful’

As a pupil, Mahdawi was an outspoken critic of Israel’s navy marketing campaign in Gaza and arranged campus protests till March 2024.

He co-founded the Palestinian Scholar Union at Columbia with Mahmoud Khalil, one other Palestinian everlasting resident of the U.S. and graduate pupil who just lately was detained by ICE.

Khalil was the primary individual arrested beneath President Donald Trump’s promised crackdown on college students who joined campus protests in opposition to the struggle in Gaza.

On Friday, an immigration choose in Louisiana dominated that Khalil will be deported as a nationwide safety danger.

Christopher Helali, a pal of Mahdawi who lives close to him in Vermont, was current exterior the immigration workplace when Mahdawi was detained and recorded a video of Mahdawi being led away by authorities.

Within the video, which Helali launched on social media Monday, Mahdawi is proven giving a peace signal together with his arms and being led away to a automobile.

Helali described Mahdawi as a peaceable demonstrator who has labored to foster dialogue in regards to the wrestle of Palestinians in his homeland.

Helali mentioned he and Mahdawi had been conscious that Mahdawi might be detained right now and that his pal went ahead with the appointment anyway.

“And rightfully so, he was nervous for what was happening round him. However he was very a lot resolute in coming to this interview and coming right now as a result of he did not do something fallacious and was a law-abiding citizen, or soon-to-be citizen,” Helali mentioned.

Vermont’s congressional delegation issued a press release condemning Mahdawi’s arrest, saying that as a substitute of taking one of many remaining steps in his citizenship course of, he was handcuffed by armed officers with their faces coated.

“That is immoral, inhumane and unlawful. Mr. Mahdawi, a authorized resident of america, should be afforded due course of beneath the regulation and instantly launched from detention,” mentioned the assertion from Sen. Bernie Sanders, Sen. Peter Welch and Rep. Becca Balint.