Mohsen Mahdawi is a Columbia University graduate student and lawful permanent resident who was arrested in April 2025 at a citizenship interview. Mahdawi grew up in a refugee camp in the occupied West Bank and is an outspoken critic of Israel’s siege on Gaza during his enrollment at Columbia. He spent two weeks in ICE custody before a federal judge ordered his release.
Recently, an immigration judge ruled that Mahdawi could not be deported. This decision was based on the government’s failure to authenticate a memorandum that was purportedly written by Secretary Marco Rubio. This document served as the entire basis for the deportation case against Mahdawi. The memo alleged that he presented a threat to US foreign policy based on his protected speech criticizing Israel. This memo was the same basis for the arrest and attempted deportation of Mahmoud Khalil.