Columbia student arrested during citizenship interview can remain free, court says
- Mohsen Mahdawi, a Palestinian Columbia University student, was arrested during his citizenship interview in Vermont in March 2025.
- The arrest followed government claims that his presence posed adverse foreign policy consequences under a rarely used Cold War-era law.
- Mahdawi and his attorneys argued his detention violated his First Amendment rights due to his pro-Palestinian activism and peaceful protests at Columbia.
- A unanimous three-judge panel of the Second Circuit Court ruled Mahdawi could remain free pending legal challenges, stating individual liberty outweighs government claims and denying re-detention.
- Mahdawi’s release prompted Vermont officials to support immigrant legal defense efforts while his deportation proceedings continue under U.S. Immigration law.
Insights by Ground AI
Does this summary seem wrong?
20 Articles
20 Articles
All
Left
4
Center
3
Right
1
'This is a light of hope': Mohsen Mahdawi says release shows democracy is functioning
Columbia University student Mohsen Mahdawi is fighting against his possible deportation after being detained by ICE and then released by a judge. The Trump administration wants to deport him, saying his presence has "foreign policy consequences." His lawyers say he was detained for speaking out for Palestinian human rights. Laura Barrón-López sat down with Mahdawi to discuss his experience.
·Washington, United States
Read Full ArticleColumbia student arrested during citizenship interview can remain free, court says - The Pulse of NH
Photo by Mukta Joshi/Getty Images(NEW YORK) -- Mohsen Mahdawi, the Columbia University student who was arrested last month during his citizenship interview, can remain free from custody while his case proceeds, a federal appeals court said on...
Coverage Details
Total News Sources20
Leaning Left4Leaning Right1Center3Last UpdatedBias Distribution50% Left
Bias Distribution
- 50% of the sources lean Left
50% Left
L 50%
C 38%
13%
Factuality
To view factuality data please Upgrade to Premium
Ownership
To view ownership data please Upgrade to Vantage