Palestinian student union founder detained by ICE

A Palestinian activist and legal U.S. resident was detained by Immigration and Customs Enforcement at a federal office in Vermont on Monday while attending what he believed would be a routine citizenship interview, his attorney said.

Mohsen Mahdawi, a green card holder who moved to the United States in 2014, was taken into custody at the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) office in Colchester. The arrest occurred despite his scheduled appointment to finalize his naturalization process, according to his legal team and witnesses at the scene.

"This is immoral, inhumane, and illegal," a joint statement from Vermont's congressional delegation, including Sen. Bernie Sanders, Sen. Peter Welch and Rep. Becca Balint said. "Mr. Mahdawi, a legal resident of the United States, must be afforded due process under the law and immediately released from detention." 

A federal judge later issued an order temporarily halting any efforts by the government to transfer Mahdawi out of the state or country. As of Tuesday, he remained in Vermont, according to his attorney, Luna Droubi.

Droubi said Mahdawi's arrest appeared to be retaliatory. "His detention that appears to be based on defamatory statements by non-governmental actors and opponents of Palestinian human rights should outrage us all," she said in a statement. Droubi further described the arrest as unconstitutional. 

Video footage of Mahdawi's detention, which was recorded by friend Christopher Helali, shows agents with covered faces escorting Mahdawi from the USCIS building. Mahdawi is seen flashing a peace sign before being placed in a vehicle. Helali, who accompanied Mahdawi to the appointment, said they anticipated the risk but felt it was important for him to attend.

"Mahdawi ... walked into an immigration office for what was supposed to be the final step in his citizenship process. Instead, he was arrested and removed in handcuffs by plainclothes, armed individuals with their faces covered," Helali said.

Mahdawi had been a prominent student leader at Columbia University, where he led demonstrations against Israel's military operations in Gaza. He co-founded the Palestinian Student Union and was scheduled to graduate in May. He had recently been accepted to a master's program at the university.

The day before his arrest, Mahdawi told CBS News the movement he helped lead was not antisemitic. "I want people to know that the work and the activism that we have done was centered in the energy of love," he said. "My compassion extended beyond the Palestinian people. My compassion is also for the Jewish people and for the Israelis as well." 

Civil rights groups and legal experts warn that Mahdawi's case reflects a troubling precedent for immigrants engaged in political activism, particularly those advocating for Palestinian rights.

State Senator Becca White, a friend of Mahdawi, expressed concern over the circumstances of his arrest. She recounted Mahdawi had reached out to her for support ahead of his citizenship interview, and she feared it might be a trap. 

"I had thought Vermont was a safe place. And what I learned today is Vermont is not safe," White stated.

Mahdawi's arrest follows the recent detention of Mahmoud Khalil, another Palestinian permanent resident and Columbia student, who was arrested in March and subsequently deemed a national security risk by an immigration judge in Louisiana. Khalil's case was the first public example of the Trump administration's crackdown on pro-Palestinian student activists. 

Senator Van Hollen also condemned the arrest, highlighting concerns over potential violations of First Amendment rights and due process. ​"You can't disappear people for exercising their First Amendment rights," U.S. Senator Chris Van Hollen of Maryland said in a video statement.

"It's not just about immigration," Droubi said. "It's about whether the United States will uphold its own values of free speech, justice, and due process — even for those who speak out against its allies."

Mahdawi's legal team is seeking his immediate release and a full explanation from ICE regarding the grounds for his arrest. 

ICE has not commented publicly on the case.