ICE arrests Mohsen Mahdawi, Columbia University protest leader 

New York, April 15 (RHC)-- U.S. immigration authorities have detained Columbia student Mohsen Mahdawi, a green card holder from Palestine.  Mahdawi was arrested in Vermont when he appeared for what he was told would be a naturalization test. 

Mahdawi had previously expressed fears the appointment, which came earlier than usual in the typical naturalization process, could end up being a trap, and made contact with Vermont’s three members of Congress to notify them of his concerns. All three of them condemned his detention.  

Like Mahmoud Khalil, Mohsen Mahdawi helped lead Columbia University campus protests against the genocide in Gaza. 

He was interviewed on “60 Minutes” in December of 2023.  During the interview, he said:
“To be antisemitic is unjust.  And the fight for the freedom of Palestine and the fight against antisemitism go hand in hand, because injustice anywhere is a threat to justice everywhere.”

[ SOURCE: REUTERS and NEWS AGENCIES ]