Mohsen Mahdawi, a Columbia University Philosophy student who was arrested and detained by US Immigration and Customs Enforcement (“ICE”) agents after attending his naturalization interview in Vermont has been released from federal detention while his immigration case proceeds. He had been under ICE custody since April 14, 2025.

Mr. Mahdawi, who has been a lawful permanent US resident and green card holder for the past ten years, grew up in a Palestinian refugee camp in the West Bank. His coordination of campus protests last year advocating for Palestinian human rights led to his arrest by the Trump administration in “its effort to combat antisemitism.” The government took him into custody at his naturalization interview and commenced proceedings to rescind his green card. Judge Geoffrey W. Crawford of Federal District Court in Vermont, ordered Mahdawi’s release finding “his conduct is protected by the First Amendment.” Mahdawi’s release is a ray of hope for other students who are also in federal custody and facing deportation for their pro-Palestinian stance.