Columbia Student Released After Political Protest Detention

A federal judge in Vermont ordered the release of Mohsen Mahdawi, a Palestinian Columbia University student and legal U.S. resident, who was detained by immigration authorities during his citizenship interview as part of a Trump administration crackdown on foreign student activists. Judge Geoffrey Crawford ruled Mahdawi was neither a danger nor a flight risk and criticized the harm caused by his detention, which followed his leadership of Gaza war protests at Columbia. Mahdawi and his supporters argue his activism is protected by the First Amendment, while the government claims disruptive protests by foreign nationals can justify deportation for foreign policy reasons. Mahdawi remains free as deportation proceedings continue, with his case highlighting broader concerns about free speech and the use of immigration law to target political activists. The outcome has galvanized advocates for student and constitutional rights. The case reflects ongoing national debate over the limits of protest and government response.