A Palestinian man who led protests against the Gaza conflict while studying at Columbia University was arrested on Monday at an immigration office in Vermont, where he was scheduled for a U.S. citizenship interview, according to his lawyers. Mohsen Mahdawi, a legal permanent resident who has held a green card since 2015, was taken into custody by Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents at the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services office in Colchester. His attorneys are unsure of his whereabouts and have filed a petition in federal court to prevent his removal from the state or country.

Attorney Luna Droubi criticized Mahdawi's detention, calling it a direct response to his advocacy for Palestinians and his identity as a Palestinian. She argued that the detention aimed to silence those who speak out against the situation in Gaza, calling it unconstitutional. The court petition notes that Mahdawi was born in a refugee camp in the West Bank and moved to the U.S. in 2014. He recently completed coursework at Columbia University and was expected to graduate in May before starting a master’s program there in the fall. Mahdawi is described as a committed Buddhist who practices non-violence and empathy, core beliefs of his religion.

While a student, Mahdawi was vocal in his opposition to Israel’s military actions in Gaza and organized protests on campus until March 2024. He co-founded the Palestinian Student Union at Columbia with Mahmoud Khalil, another Palestinian permanent resident who was recently detained by ICE. Khalil was the first person arrested as part of President Trump’s crackdown on students involved in protests against the Gaza war. A Louisiana immigration judge recently ruled that Khalil could be deported as a national security threat.

Christopher Helali, a friend of Mahdawi, witnessed his detention and recorded a video of Mahdawi being led away by authorities. In the video, Mahdawi is shown giving a peace sign as he is taken to a vehicle. Helali described Mahdawi as a peaceful activist who sought to promote dialogue about the Palestinian struggle. He explained that while Mahdawi was nervous, he remained determined to attend the interview, believing he had done nothing wrong and was a law-abiding citizen.

Vermont's congressional delegation expressed strong disapproval of Mahdawi’s arrest, criticizing the action as immoral, inhumane, and illegal. The delegation, including Senators Bernie Sanders and Peter Welch and Representative Becca Balint, called for Mahdawi’s immediate release, emphasizing his legal rights and due process.