Palestinian Activist Detained After Suspected Immigration Interview Trap

Thu Jul 03 2025 06:41:35 GMT+0300 (Eastern European Summer Time)
Palestinian Activist Detained After Suspected Immigration Interview Trap

Mohsen Mahdawi, a Columbia University student and activist, raises concerns over his detention by ICE, alleging his immigration interview was a setup.


Mohsen Mahdawi, a Palestinian activist and philosophy student, fears his immigration interview was a trap that led to his detention by US Immigration and Customs Enforcement. His lawyer argues that the detention is retaliation for his advocacy and attempts to silence dissent against policies concerning Palestine.


Mohsen Mahdawi, a Palestinian activist and philosophy student at Columbia University, expressed fears that an immigration interview in the US might be a trap, a sentiment that preceded his recent detention by Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE). During an interview with CBS News, Mahdawi noted his apprehension about attending the appointment on Monday, where he feared he would be caught in a "honey trap".

Following his arrest in Colchester, Vermont, Mahdawi's attorney Luna Droubi emphasized that the detention was a direct response to Mahdawi's vocal advocacy for Palestinian rights and his identity. "This act of detaining him is an attempt to silence those who speak against the atrocities in Gaza and is fundamentally unconstitutional," Droubi stated. Born in a West Bank refugee camp, Mahdawi arrived in the US in 2014 and has since been an active voice in campus protests.

The day after his arrest, a federal judge ruled that Mahdawi could not be removed from Vermont, amid growing concern for his welfare. Other activists, including Columbia’s Mahmoud Khalil and Tufts’ Rumeysa Ozturk, have also faced detention, sparking protests in support of their release.

Mahdawi, who is scheduled to graduate next month, co-founded Columbia's Palestinian Student Union and has been an active participant in protests regarding the current conflict related to Gaza. In a previous CBS interview, he had made a controversial accusation of genocide against Israel, which has faced strong denial from Israeli officials.

Legal experts have contended that actions taken against students and activists, including visa revocation based on political beliefs, might violate constitutional protections. Meanwhile, statements from President Trump have hinted at broader implications for civil liberties, raising alarm among legal analysts. As tensions rise, the situation unfolds amidst ongoing debates on immigration, student rights, and activism in the US.

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