Biography
Mohsen Mahdawi, a Palestinian lawful permanent resident and Columbia University student organizer, was arrested by immigration agents on April 14, 2025 when he appeared for what he believed was a citizenship interview. The government sought to remove him under a foreign-policy provision based on his Palestine advocacy. A federal judge ordered his release on April 30, 2025 after sixteen days in custody. An immigration judge dismissed the removal charge in February 2026 for failure to authenticate the secretary of state’s memorandum, but the Board of Immigration Appeals reinstated proceedings. On July 21, 2026, the Second Circuit ruled that the district court lacked jurisdiction to grant habeas relief at that stage. Mahdawi remained free while appealing the removal order.
An October 14, 2025 UN special-procedures allegation letter to Columbia University describes Mahdawi’s April 14 arrest at a naturalization appointment in Colchester, Vermont and April 30 release. The letter sought clarification of alleged rights violations; it was not a court judgment and did not end removal proceedings. Later judicial and immigration outcomes remain separate. Source: https://spcommreports.ohchr.org/TMResultsBase/DownLoadPublicCommunicationFile?gId=30402#page=6
