A Vermont judge ordered the release of Mohsen Mahdawi, a Palestinian man and legal permanent resident, who was arrested by immigration officials during his U.S. citizenship interview. Mahdawi, who has lived in the United States since 2014, has been an outspoken critic of Israel's military actions in Gaza and led protests at Columbia University. His detention is claimed by his lawyers to be retaliatory, targeting his advocacy for Palestinian human rights. The government argues that his presence could have negative foreign policy consequences, which justifies his removal under the Immigration and Nationality Act. Despite these claims, the court ruled that Mahdawi should not be removed from Vermont or the country, although the government maintains that district courts have no jurisdiction over such removal proceedings.

Mohsen Mahdawi, a Palestinian and legal U.S. resident, was arrested by immigration officials during his citizenship interview in what his lawyers claim is retaliation for his advocacy for Palestinian rights.

Judge Geoffrey Crawford in Vermont ordered Mahdawi’s release after he had been held in a correctional facility since April 14, with a further order preventing his removal from the state or country.

The U.S. government contends that Mahdawi's presence could adversely affect foreign policy, citing the Immigration and Nationality Act, while Mahdawi's legal team argues this is a pretext to silence his political speech.

Born in a refugee camp in the West Bank, Mahdawi moved to the U.S. in 2014, completed his studies at Columbia, and was set to graduate and pursue a master's degree.

Alongside Mahmoud Khalil, another Palestinian student detained by immigration authorities, Mahdawi co-founded the Palestinian Student Union at Columbia University, leading protests against the Israeli military campaign in Gaza.