Mohsen Mahdawi, a Palestinian legal permanent resident and activist, was arrested at a Vermont immigration office while awaiting U.S. citizenship processing. His attorneys claim this detention is a direct retaliation for his protests against the Gaza conflict and violates constitutional rights. Born in a West Bank refugee camp, Mahdawi moved to the U.S. in 2014 and has advocated for Palestinian rights while studying at Columbia University. His case raises significant concerns regarding immigration enforcement and the treatment of activists.
"The Trump administration detained Mohsen Mahdawi in direct retaliation for his advocacy on behalf of Palestinians and because of his identity as a Palestinian. His detention is an attempt to silence those who speak out against the atrocities in Gaza. It is also unconstitutional," attorney Luna Droubi said in an email.
According to the court filing, Mahdawi was born in a refugee camp in the West Bank and moved to the United States in 2014. He recently completed coursework at Columbia and was expected to graduate in May before beginning a master's degree program there in the fall.
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