Columbia University student Mohsen Mahdawi, a key organizer of the pro-Palestinian movement on campus, was released from federal custody on Wednesday after a Vermont court ruled he posed no public danger or flight risk.
The Trump administration had sought to revoke his green card and deport him under national security justifications, drawing parallels to McCarthy-era crackdowns.
Federal District Court Judge Geoffrey W. Crawford approved Mahdawi’s release on bail, citing over 90 letters from community members and academic figures, many of them Jewish, who vouched for Mahdawi’s peaceful character and academic integrity. In his ruling, Judge Crawford highlighted the “extraordinary circumstances” of the case and warned against government attempts to silence dissent, calling this moment in history reminiscent of prior overreach.
Mahdawi, 34, was arrested on April 14 at a Vermont appointment he believed was part of his naturalization process. Instead, immigration officials — some with covered faces — took him into custody. Since then, federal authorities have attempted to justify his detention using provisions related to foreign policy threats, despite Mahdawi having no criminal charges against him.
The Department of Homeland Security claimed his activism could damage U.S. foreign relations and accused him of spreading antisemitism, though no evidence was provided. Tricia McLaughlin, a DHS spokeswoman, denounced the judge’s decision publicly. Meanwhile, Secretary of State Marco Rubio had previously written that Mahdawi’s protest activities undermined American interests abroad.
Mahdawi responded defiantly upon release, telling a crowd outside the courthouse, “To President Trump and his cabinet: I am not afraid of you.” Wearing a kaffiyeh and flashing peace signs, Mahdawi reiterated that his activism was rooted in a desire for peace and human rights.
The court decision marked a significant setback for the administration’s campus crackdown efforts. Mahdawi’s legal team emphasized that while his immigration case continues, he will now be able to fight it outside detention and complete his academic program at Columbia.
Vermont lawmakers, including Senators Peter Welch and Bernie Sanders, expressed support for Mahdawi and condemned the administration’s tactics as “immoral and shameful.” Another Columbia student, Mahmoud Khalil, remains detained in Louisiana under similar allegations, with advocates pushing for his release.
As Mohsen Mahdawi’s case moves forward, his release is being hailed as a critical moment in defending the constitutional rights of protesters and immigrants alike.
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