Appeals court overturns release order for foreign student arrested in Vermont
The panel said only immigration court can hear Mahdawi’s detention challenge, vacating the Vermont judge’s release order and dismissal ruling.
- On Tuesday, the U.S. Court of Appeals for the 2nd Circuit overturned a lower court ruling that ordered the release of Columbia University activist Mohsen Mahdawi from immigration detention, ruling his case must proceed through immigration court instead.
- Federal agents arrested Mahdawi, a Palestinian-born lawful U.S. permanent resident, during a citizenship interview in April 2025, amid the Trump administration's broader crackdown on pro-Palestinian campus activism.
- State Secretary Marco Rubio argued Mahdawi's presence could "potentially undermine" U.S. foreign policy on the basis of "adverse foreign policy consequences," while human rights lawyers contend the government is retaliating against constitutionally protected speech.
- Previously, the Board of Immigration Appeals reinstated deportation proceedings after overturning an earlier decision by immigration judge Nina Froes, and the ruling sends the detention challenge back to the executive branch immigration court system.
- Mahdawi, who co-founded Columbia University's Palestinian Student Union, has accused the administration of "weaponising the immigration system" to silence his political views in a case closely watched for its implications on non-citizen speech rights.
33 Articles
33 Articles
Appeals court overturns lower court ruling releasing anti-Israel activist
A federal appeals court on Tuesday overturned a lower court’s ruling ordering the Trump administration to release Columbia University student Mohsen Mahdawi from immigration detention, finding the lower court lacked jurisdiction to decide his case. The three-judge panel of the Manhattan-based 2nd U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals ruled Mahdawi’s claims should first have been resolved through immigration court proceedings, rather than in federal dist…
Hanford Sentinel
Lodinews.comColumbia protester Mahdawi’s ICE detention release overturned on appeal
NEW YORK — A federal appeals panel on Tuesday overturned a lower court’s decision to release Columbia University and Palestinian activist Mohsen Mahdawi from immigration detention. The U.S. Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit ruled 3-0 that a federal…
US appeals court overturns order releasing pro-Palestinian advocate Mohsen Mahdawi
A U.S. appeals court on Tuesday overturned a 2025 ruling that ordered the Trump administration to release pro-Palestinian advocate Mohsen Mahdawi from immigration detention, finding that the lower court lacked jurisdiction to hear the case.
US appeals court overturns release of pro-Palestinian advocate Mahdawi, citing lack of jurisdiction
Mahdawi, 35, was one of several non-citizen students who were placed in deportation proceedings last year after taking part in demonstrations against Israel's military campaign in Gaza.
Coverage Details
Bias Distribution
- 41% of the sources lean Left
Factuality
To view factuality data please Upgrade to Premium
