Overview

• Mohsen Mahdawi, a Columbia University student and legal permanent resident, was released on bail on April 30 after a federal judge ruled his conduct was protected by the First Amendment.
• Newly surfaced court documents allege that in 2015, Mahdawi told a Vermont gun shop owner he had built weapons to 'kill Jews' while in Palestine, which Mahdawi denies.
• The FBI investigated the 2015 claims but did not pursue charges, with the judge noting the lack of action implied insufficient evidence to proceed.
• The Trump administration has appealed Mahdawi's release, continuing its broader campaign targeting pro-Palestinian activists under a rarely used immigration provision.
• Critics argue the government's actions raise serious concerns about due process, free speech, and the chilling effect on campus activism.