Columbia student detained during citizenship process amid immigration crackdown

In the United States, on Monday, April 14, 2025, Mohsen Mahdawi, a Columbia University student and legal permanent resident, was arrested during a scheduled naturalization interview. Mahdawi's detention occurred in Vermont and was characterized by his lawyer as retaliation for his involvement in advocacy protests against Israel's military campaign in Gaza. He was born in a West Bank refugee camp and has lived in the U.S. since 2014. During his interview, armed agents, two of whom were masked, took him into custody unexpectedly, while Mahdawi was hoping to finalize his citizenship application. His lawyer, Luna Droubi, emphasized that Mahdawi's arrest violates his rights and appears to be part of a larger pattern targeting Palestinian students and activists under the Trump administration’s policies. His advocates argue that such detentions are not only unjustified, but also morally and legally wrong. A temporary restraining order was filed that same day in federal court, blocking his removal, as lawmakers highlighted the broader implications of this individual case, citing it as an example of the government's crackdown on students who express dissenting views on U.S. foreign policy in the Middle East. This incident mirrors the ejection of another student activist, Mahmoud Khalil, from Columbia, who also faced deportation threats due to his political activities. Khalil's case and others have raised concerns over a perceived increase in hostilities towards international students, especially those from Middle Eastern backgrounds, which critics claim undermines a long-standing tradition of academic freedom and criticism in the U.S. Further concerns have been raised about claims of a link between student activism and national security threats by federal officials, which many view as an alarming trend in immigration enforcement targeted at vocal student leaders. As of now, Mahdawi remains in the custody of Immigration and Customs Enforcement, while ongoing legal challenges from his attorneys are underway to secure his release. The incident has sparked significant outcry from congressional members, who view Mahdawi's arrest and detention as indicative of a troubling trend in how foreign students, particularly those advocating for Palestinian rights, are treated within the immigration system. They argue that the actions taken against Mahdawi signal a chilling effect on free speech and peaceful protest on U.S. campuses, highlighting the potential hazards faced by those who engage in political activism. Meanwhile, discussions continue in academic circles and among policymakers regarding the implications of such actions on freedom of expression, political dissent, and the fundamental rights of permanent residents in the United States.