Overview

• Mohsen Mahdawi, a Palestinian activist and U.S. green card holder, graduated from Columbia University on May 19, weeks after his release from immigration detention.
• Detained during an April 14 citizenship interview in Vermont, Mahdawi was accused of posing a foreign policy risk due to his pro-Palestinian activism but has not been charged with any crime.
• A federal judge ordered his release on April 30, citing concerns over due process and likening the government’s actions to McCarthy-era tactics.
• Mahdawi's graduation was met with cheers and support from classmates, though he criticized both Columbia University and the Trump administration for their handling of his case.
• While Mahdawi plans to pursue a graduate degree at Columbia in the fall, his classmate Mahmoud Khalil remains detained in Louisiana, awaiting a court decision on his release.