Just as he arrived for his citizenship interview at a US Citizenship and Immigration Services ( USCIS ) office in Vermont, immigration agents detained Palestinian student Mohsen Mahdawi on Monday. After a decade-long remain in the US, where he had a green cards, Muhammadawi, a scholar and campaigner, was detained.
He had been a vocal participant in the anti-Israel demonstrations on Columbia’s school, which probably drew the attention of the Trump administration’s emigration police work.
Mahdawi, hands tied, is spotted being escorted by federal agencies to an unknown car in a video posted on social media. His lawyer, Luna Droubi, characterized the arrest as unconstitutional, saying that he came to this country “hoping to become free to speak out about the crimes he has witnessed, only to be punished for such speech.”
According to his pro-Palestinian engagement, Mahdawi, who led the Arab student union at Columbia, has drawn criticism and attention. He stated to The Intercept,” It’s kind of a dying word… because my persons are being killed unfairly in an uncontrolled way.” He explained that because of his previous engagement, particularly his position in the protest against Israel’s actions in Gaza, immigration enforcement had become a target.
After his friend and fellow rebel Mahmoud Khalil was taken into custody by immigration officials out of concern for his own arrest, Mahdawi fled lying. His membership meeting had been moved from December to this week by the USCIS, which raised concerns that the conference was a part of a layout. When Muhammad was detained while attending the meeting, Mahdawi’s worries became apparent.
His lawyer argued that the president’s actions violated his constitutional rights in a habeas corpus petition filed on his behest. Since then, a federal prosecutor has issued a temporary restraining order, preventing Mahdawi from moving out of Vermont while his case is pending.
Mahdawi has stated that he thinks his imprisonment to the West Bank, where unrest and violence are rampant, would be a “death word.” His family in the area has experienced constant suffering, including losing relatives to fight and losing their homes.
Mahdawi is one of a growing number of individuals and activists who have been targeted by the Trump administration’s immigration policies, especially those that support Palestinians. Another contentious book in the US government’s assault on political activists is here.
