A US District Judge has ruled that Columbia University student Mohsen Mahdawi should be released on bail to challenge the Trump administration’s efforts to deport him over his pro-Palestinian activism. Mahdawi, born in a refugee camp in the West Bank, was arrested upon arrival for an interview with his US citizenship petition and had been held in detention for two weeks.
Judge Geoffrey Crawford ruled that Mahdawi did not pose a danger to the public or a flight risk, citing parallels between the current situation and the Red Scare of the last century. The judge also stated that Mahdawi’s right to free speech under the First Amendment was protected, even if he had expressed views critical of Israel’s conduct in the war in Gaza.
Mahdawi, a green card holder who has lived in Vermont for 10 years, is set to graduate from Columbia University in May. He has not been accused of any crime but his pro-Palestinian activism has led to deportation proceedings under the Trump administration’s policy.
The ruling marks a setback for the administration’s efforts to deport foreign university students who have expressed support for Palestinians and criticized Israel’s actions. Other students, including Mahmoud Khalil and Rumeysa Ozturk, remain in custody and have not been charged with any crimes.
The White House had threatened to revoke Mahdawi’s green card privileges if he continued to advocate for Palestinian rights, but the judge’s ruling prevents this from happening. President Donald Trump’s critics have called the effort an attack on free speech rights under the First Amendment.
Source: https://www.reuters.com/world/us/us-immigration-release-detained-palestinian-student-following-judges-order-cbs-2025-04-30